Struggling to stop

[ThePurpleMan]

The past year I have been abusing Lyrica, of course both alcohol and weed mixed in there too.
I have tried so many times to stop, but it only lasts a few weeks at max.
I am now 15 days off alcohol and it's been really easy, since after every relapse, I started up on a smaller and smaller amount everytime.
At the same time I stopped Lyrica 450mg (not my greatest idea), but kept the weed.

At day 9, the worst side effects were gone from Lyrica, but I was still craving Lyrica, and I ended up relapsing, the whole 30 min walk to the last pharmacy that had night shift, I kept telling myself to not do it, but I felt at peace after buying them, all my negative thoughts and what was stressing me went away just holding the box.

I went home, and instantly took 450mg, and it felt so great.
The thing I enjoy from it is just the whole kind of nodding off, or the kind of feeling of having to manually breath, it's just nice to feel so relaxed.
I told myself next day, I didn't want to do it again, but we all know how that story ends.

I'm at a loss, I genuinely want to stop, but I can't, because it's like saying your last goodbye to a good friend.
But another side of me don't want to give up on and stop forever on Lyrica.

I have thought about tapering off, but in my head I'm like "That's a waste of money and a good high".

All in all, my question to you all is, how did you stop your addiction when it felt like the only thing that makes you happy?

 

[greyclan_shadowman]

The past year I have been abusing Lyrica, of course both alcohol and weed mixed in there too.
I have tried so many times to stop, but it only lasts a few weeks at max.
I am now 15 days off alcohol and it's been really easy, since after every relapse, I started up on a smaller and smaller amount everytime.
At the same time I stopped Lyrica 450mg (not my greatest idea), but kept the weed.

At day 9, the worst side effects were gone from Lyrica, but I was still craving Lyrica, and I ended up relapsing, the whole 30 min walk to the last pharmacy that had night shift, I kept telling myself to not do it, but I felt at peace after buying them, all my negative thoughts and what was stressing me went away just holding the box.

I went home, and instantly took 450mg, and it felt so great.
The thing I enjoy from it is just the whole kind of nodding off, or the kind of feeling of having to manually breath, it's just nice to feel so relaxed.
I told myself next day, I didn't want to do it again, but we all know how that story ends.

I'm at a loss, I genuinely want to stop, but I can't, because it's like saying your last goodbye to a good friend.
But another side of me don't want to give up on and stop forever on Lyrica.

I have thought about tapering off, but in my head I'm like "That's a waste of money and a good high".

All in all, my question to you all is, how did you stop your addiction when it felt like the only thing that makes you happy?

 

[greyclan_shadowman]

BECAUSE OF MEMORY ISSUES THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTIES CONVEYING MYSELF OR THINKING OF THE WORDS I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S FROM GABAPENTIN AND LYRICA THIS ISN'T ENOUGH TO KIND OF GET YOU OFF MAN I'M ONLY 30 AND I SERIOUSLY FORGET S*** EVERYWHERE AND IT'S I CAN'T EVEN KEEP A CONVERSATION S
What the Research Shows for Pregabalin

• Increased Dementia Risk: In a major population-based study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, researchers tracked over 200,000 adults. They found that patients using gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin) had a 45% higher overall risk of developing dementia compared to matched individuals who did not take the drugs.
• Disproportionate Risk in Younger Adults: Much like the gabapentin data, the relative risk increase was strikingly pronounced in adults under the age of 50. In this younger age bracket, patients taking these medications had more than triple the risk of a dementia diagnosis compared to their unexposed peers.
• Dose-Dependent Trends: The likelihood of a dementia diagnosis rose progressively with higher cumulative daily doses over the course of treatment.
• Direct Cognitive Slowing: Separate double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials evaluating pregabalin in healthy volunteers showed that conventional therapeutic doses caused measurable mild cognitive impairment. Active use directly impacted brain processing speed, verbal fluency, and short-term recall, which correlated with patient complaints of "brain fog" and concentration difficulties.

GOOD LUCK BECAUSE THE DIFFICULTIES LATER WILL SHOW AND IT'S HAPPENING TO ME RIGHT NOW AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEUROLOGICAL ISSUES ARE THAT ARE GOING ON WITH ME AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS ABUSE THAT I'VE HAD HAD FOR OVER 15 YEARS

 

[streaM Freak]

All in all, my question to you all is, how did you stop your addiction when it felt like the only thing that makes you happy?

Hey, congrats on even thinking about seriously going off of them. It's definitely not easy to come to terms with.

An easy start might be to evaluate life and think what sobriety might look like, and where you'd want to put that extra money and time? Could be things you miss doing, but also will likely be completely new things / hobbies / activities/ communities / associations.. because unfortunately when we are spending our time getting high and thinking about getting high, lots of time passes.. we get older, and things change.

But don't force a plan if you don't have one yet. If I were you I'd sit with the question of what you want sobriety to look like with new time money and freedoms

Also I think it's important to remember, that most of the good new things from a sober life, just sort of happen. Like you probably won't be looking for it. But once you have a more clear thought process you will actually start experiencing new ideas, interest, and motivations.

 

[placebonaut]

BECAUSE OF MEMORY ISSUES THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTIES CONVEYING MYSELF OR THINKING OF THE WORDS I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S FROM GABAPENTIN AND LYRICA THIS ISN'T ENOUGH TO KIND OF GET YOU OFF MAN I'M ONLY 30 AND I SERIOUSLY FORGET S*** EVERYWHERE AND IT'S I CAN'T EVEN KEEP A CONVERSATION S
What the Research Shows for Pregabalin

• Increased Dementia Risk: In a major population-based study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, researchers tracked over 200,000 adults. They found that patients using gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin) had a 45% higher overall risk of developing dementia compared to matched individuals who did not take the drugs.
• Disproportionate Risk in Younger Adults: Much like the gabapentin data, the relative risk increase was strikingly pronounced in adults under the age of 50. In this younger age bracket, patients taking these medications had more than triple the risk of a dementia diagnosis compared to their unexposed peers.
• Dose-Dependent Trends: The likelihood of a dementia diagnosis rose progressively with higher cumulative daily doses over the course of treatment.
• Direct Cognitive Slowing: Separate double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials evaluating pregabalin in healthy volunteers showed that conventional therapeutic doses caused measurable mild cognitive impairment. Active use directly impacted brain processing speed, verbal fluency, and short-term recall, which correlated with patient complaints of "brain fog" and concentration difficulties.

GOOD LUCK BECAUSE THE DIFFICULTIES LATER WILL SHOW AND IT'S HAPPENING TO ME RIGHT NOW AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEUROLOGICAL ISSUES ARE THAT ARE GOING ON WITH ME AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS ABUSE THAT I'VE HAD HAD FOR OVER 15 YEARS

Pregab doesn't cause dementia, you're quoting the Taiwanese study that was flawed.

Gabapentinoids Post in thread 'The Lyrica (Pregabalin) Mega Thread v 2.0'

Aug 27, 2026

I mean all drugs cause risks but the high versus the risk potential Dementia Risk down road its not worth it.

so Pregab causes dementia now?!

wtf? why you would spout baseless claims that can be checked is beyond me, you do realise that people read this forum for information, scaremongering and providing false info is really fucking irresponsible.

so here you are, I got off my arse and did it for you

for anyone else reading, chatgpt summary but go and read the papers, they exist....

1. You said: are there any studies about pregabalin and Dementia?​

   
   

2. ChatGPT...​

• placebonaut

• 
• 

The past year I have been abusing Lyrica, of course both alcohol and weed mixed in there too.
I have tried so many times to stop, but it only lasts a few weeks at max.

why do you keep trying to stop?

I am now 15 days off alcohol and it's been really easy, since after every relapse, I started up on a smaller and smaller amount everytime.

well done on the alcohol, as an alcoholic myself that's a great achievement, I've been sober for 3 weeks now.

At the same time I stopped Lyrica 450mg (not my greatest idea), but kept the weed.

you might have found it easier to stop just 1 thing at a time but I've done the same thing, quit multiple drugs in 1 go, it's hard mode for sure.

At day 9, the worst side effects were gone from Lyrica, but I was still craving Lyrica, and I ended up relapsing, the whole 30 min walk to the last pharmacy that had night shift, I kept telling myself to not do it, but I felt at peace after buying them, all my negative thoughts and what was stressing me went away just holding the box.

I went home, and instantly took 450mg, and it felt so great.
The thing I enjoy from it is just the whole kind of nodding off, or the kind of feeling of having to manually breath, it's just nice to feel so relaxed.
I told myself next day, I didn't want to do it again, but we all know how that story ends.

everyone has wobbles, it's part of recovery, don't beat yourself up about it, you still have a choice about taking the next 1....

given you like the nod, you might actually prefer gabapentin over pregabalin as it's more sedating, gabapentin is also less harmful, and if you like sedation you might also be able to take a lower equivalent dose, plus gabapentin will help manage the pregabalin withdrawal. It's also harder for you to take higher amounts without stopping and thinking about what you're doing because your body can't absorb it as fast.

A switch could take you in the right direction of stopping if you're struggling to quit straight off pregab

I'm at a loss, I genuinely want to stop, but I can't, because it's like saying your last goodbye to a good friend.
But another side of me don't want to give up on and stop forever on Lyrica.

I have thought about tapering off, but in my head I'm like "That's a waste of money and a good high".

All in all, my question to you all is, how did you stop your addiction when it felt like the only thing that makes you happy?

To add to @streaM Freak 's great points.

you've got to want it, be honest with yourself, then when you're ready step up and own it, make a plan then follow it - people can help and give you advice & support on here, but it helps to have a good support network around you as well, friends/family/support groups.

Exercise would be the other big thing to give a try, get outside, you'll get more out of the small thing when you're tied and have some nature around you

 

[ThePurpleMan]

Hey, congrats on even thinking about seriously going off of them. It's definitely not easy to come to terms with.

An easy start might be to evaluate life and think what sobriety might look like, and where you'd want to put that extra money and time? Could be things you miss doing, but also will likely be completely new things / hobbies / activities/ communities / associations.. because unfortunately when we are spending our time getting high and thinking about getting high, lots of time passes.. we get older, and things change.

But don't force a plan if you don't have one yet. If I were you I'd sit with the question of what you want sobriety to look like with new time money and freedoms

Also I think it's important to remember, that most of the good new things from a sober life, just sort of happen. Like you probably won't be looking for it. But once you have a more clear thought process you will actually start experiencing new ideas, interest, and motivations.

Thank you, that's a good idea to go about it. I will try making a plan; it's much easier than just running headfirst into it.

Pregab doesn't cause dementia, you're quoting the Taiwanese study that was flawed.

Gabapentinoids Post in thread 'The Lyrica (Pregabalin) Mega Thread v 2.0'

Aug 27, 2026

I mean all drugs cause risks but the high versus the risk potential Dementia Risk down road its not worth it.

so Pregab causes dementia now?!

wtf? why you would spout baseless claims that can be checked is beyond me, you do realise that people read this forum for information, scaremongering and providing false info is really fucking irresponsible.

so here you are, I got off my arse and did it for you

for anyone else reading, chatgpt summary but go and read the papers, they exist....

1. You said: are there any studies about pregabalin and Dementia?​

   
   

2. ChatGPT...​

• placebonaut

• 
• 

why do you keep trying to stop?

well done on the alcohol, as an alcoholic myself that's a great achievement, I've been sober for 3 weeks now.

you might have found it easier to stop just 1 thing at a time but I've done the same thing, quit multiple drugs in 1 go, it's hard mode for sure.

everyone has wobbles, it's part of recovery, don't beat yourself up about it, you still have a choice about taking the next 1....

given you like the nod, you might actually prefer gabapentin over pregabalin as it's more sedating, gabapentin is also less harmful, and if you like sedation you might also be able to take a lower equivalent dose, plus gabapentin will help manage the pregabalin withdrawal. It's also harder for you to take higher amounts without stopping and thinking about what you're doing because your body can't absorb it as fast.

A switch could take you in the right direction of stopping if you're struggling to quit straight off pregab


To add to @streaM Freak 's great points.

you've got to want it, be honest with yourself, then when you're ready step up and own it, make a plan then follow it - people can help and give you advice & support on here, but it helps to have a good support network around you as well, friends/family/support groups.

Exercise would be the other big thing to give a try, get outside, you'll get more out of the small thing when you're tied and have some nature around you

1: I would just like to not be high every night, and also just want to remember what I was doing a few min ago, because I can't remember anything from the day before.
2: Hell yeah, that's huge, congrats on being 3 weeks sober!
3: True, I get motivated to drop everything and never been good at doing one thing at a time.
4: Thanks, I ended up being able to get past the first day without it again, so on day 2 now, which I always feel is so much easier than the first day.
5: I will look into that; it could be a great way to switch, or even help getting off it totally.
6: Yeah, I want to stop, because I don't really like the whole "not remembering", and being addicted to something is the worst. I do have a lot of support, but I keep feeling like a failure when I can't just stop and go sober no problem, and seeing the people who support me get sad about me relapsing is the worst, to the point where I start hiding it. I am already exercising; I usually walk a lot, strength train, and generally just try to get outside as much as I can

 

[nato23]

Don’t get a habit on pregabalin (Lyrica).
The withdrawals are nasty and sometimes lethal.
It works on the GABA B receptor - like alcohol.
I am dependent on them and it’s so hard to get off. You need to slowly titrate off it - which is hard because sometimes when you have a bad day you take a hand full. 900mg +but I don’t feel the euphoria like some people - it just makes me feel calm.
I usually don’t abuse it, I take it for anxiety - I self medicate because doctors just try and fill me with SSRIs. I’ve tried 5-6 different types and they feel like poison… they say take a few months to work… so what am i supposed to do about my anxiety until they “start to work”.

I’ve felt like absolute shit on them.
A few doctors told me diazepam isn’t for anxiety… bullshit. Benzos are for anxiety - yes they have other uses, but they are mainly for anxiety - especially alprazolam which they don’t prescribe in the UK. God knows why.

I’d rather be on diazepam for the rest of my life - but prescribed so i don’t rely on self medicate. I wonder if i go and tell them dependant and rely on illegal sources and I can’t get them no more and its life threatening when I run out…
Sorry went a bit off topic… I don’t have any one to talk to.

Just be careful with pregabalin (Lyrica)
Its easy to get addicted