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HangInThere

Tapering: Lyrica

7 posts

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

3rd Lyrica Update - Feeling Very bad

May 13, 2026··
taper update
Feeling very bad. Been having bouts of nausea, anxiety, insomnia, headache, irritability, fatigue, crying spells, muscle aches, gi upset, and sweating.

HangInThere’s taper progress

View full journey →
Dose (mg)
Mood (/10)

Psych Meds:
Lyrica 600mg 2023-2026 tapered to 200mg.
Buspar 60 mg 2019-2026 tapered to 10mg
Zoloft 150mg 2019-2026 tapered to 100mg
Trazadone 150mg 2019-2026 tapered to 50mg
Prestiq 100mg 2023-2026
Geodon 40mg 2024-2026 no taper yet
Vyvanse 70mg 2024-2026 ( plan was to stop this completely 2 weeks ago and switch to only Adderall (60mg) but I did not do that yet due to the Lyrica withdrawal symptoms.
Adderall 30mg 2025-2026-switching to Adderall 60mg ASAP & stop VyVanse completely

Other Meds:
Prevacid ( not sure mg) 2023-2026
Pepcid 40mg 2023-2026
Cevimeline (dry mouth) 90mg 2024-2026 tapered to 60mg
Hiprex 1 GM ( Interstitial Cystitis)
Suboxone (chronic pain) 16mg 2020-2026- tapered to 8-12mg depending on pain that day. I started tapering 6months ago.
Zepbound 10 pen weekly 2025-2026
Cosentyx 150 pen X 2 monthly
Vitamin D3

As needed meds-
Nurtec 75mg (migraines) guanfacine 1mg (anxiety/panic attacks) ,, dicyclomine 10mg (stomach pain) , zofran ( nausea), Pyridium 200mg(bladder pain)

BOTOX every 3 months for migraines
TRIGGER PT INJECTIONS ( bupivicaine) every 3 months for neck, back, hip & butt pain
EUFLEXXA knee injections every 6 months
STEROID INJECTIONS in hips and knees.
Weekly bladder installations
Already have done 9 months P. T and 12 months pelvic physiotherapy

7 Replies

Catina
CatinaStaff3mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
Hi @HangInThere, I read your history on your profile. I'm sorry you had a problem when filling it out. There are some technical difficulties that are being worked on. Our apologies to you! You're on a lot of different medications. It might be wise to go onto drugs.com and read about the potential side effects of each one, and also any potential interactions between them. You can use their Interactions Checker to do this. From what I've seen, a drug might cause an undesirable side effect and then another drug is added to "treat" the side effect that the original one is causing. I can't say for sure, but I'm wondering how much of your current issues are actually adverse reactions and/or side effects of all the medications you're on. It's just something to consider....not to scare you....but to arm you with knowledge. Is the Lyrica giving you the most issues and is why you want to taper it first? Is it your goal to get off multiple medications or just the one? I'm really sorry all your health issues are preventing you from working and being able to function. You're dealing with a lot. I do think your doctor tapered you too fast. Many don't understand how to taper Hyperbolically, slowly, and safely. Please know you're not alone in this, and your fellow members are here to help you through this. 🩷

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

Catina
CatinaStaff3mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
One thing I forgot to mention! Since you're taking D3, it's important to take K2 with it. Without the K2, excess calcium can build up in your arteries. K2 prevents that from happening.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

W
Wolf3mo ago
Community AnchorProzac · researching
I am now on Buspar and used to be on Zoloft as well so may be of help with these. Lyrica is notorious for being hard to taper.

Prozac — 40 mg — 6 months — holding | Zyprexa — 20 mg — 6 years — holding | Depakote — 600 mg — 8 months — **tapering** | Buspirone — 20 mg — 8 months — holding | with clinician
"If life is painful, start a rebellion and make it good."

Steve
SteveStaff3mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor · active
Yes Lyrica can be as hard as benzo taper. It would be interesting what your Priorities are and why it‘s Lyrica for now. Just curious. I would suggest reducing it isn‘t wrong, but maybe other meds can be reduced easier first.

off Stimulants (2000-2013)
off Fluoxetine (2010-2013)
off Lamotrigine (2013-2016)
off Quetiapain (2016-2020)

currently Effexor — 33mg — 13 years (from 300mg) — actively tapering | with clinician

H
NavigatorLyrica
Thanks everyone for reaching out. So my goal is to be on as little meds as possible. It has gotten out of hand. They definitely have put me on different medications to try and help with the other medications side effects. I have been tapering quite a few of my medications this last year because I don't want to be a walking pharmacy and I am to the point where I don't know what medications are interacting with what at this point. Im almost off the buspar, it's taken months but right now I'm on 10mg (5 twice a day) and was on (60 mg) , also am working on tapering off Suboxone (on 8mg) was on 16 mg, the trazadone I'm down to 50 mg from 150 mg, now the Lyrica I'm taking 250mg.and was on 600mg.last year. I am going to try and continue to decrease meds. When I started Lyrica it was the same month that I quit working due to all these health conditions so the 35lb weight gain made me think that it was due to not being as active. I really just want to get my life back. The constant pain makes me depressed and anxious which makes my pain and autoimmune disease worse. It's a vicious cycle that's for sure. I hope you all are doing well and really appreciate your support

Psych Meds:
Lyrica 600mg 2023-2026 tapered to 200mg.
Buspar 60 mg 2019-2026 tapered to 10mg
Zoloft 150mg 2019-2026 tapered to 100mg
Trazadone 150mg 2019-2026 tapered to 50mg
Prestiq 100mg 2023-2026
Geodon 40mg 2024-2026 no taper yet
Vyvanse 70mg 2024-2026 ( plan was to stop this completely 2 weeks ago and switch to only Adderall (60mg) but I did not do that yet due to the Lyrica withdrawal symptoms.
Adderall 30mg 2025-2026-switching to Adderall 60mg ASAP & stop VyVanse completely

Other Meds:
Prevacid ( not sure mg) 2023-2026
Pepcid 40mg 2023-2026
Cevimeline (dry mouth) 90mg 2024-2026 tapered to 60mg
Hiprex 1 GM ( Interstitial Cystitis)
Suboxone (chronic pain) 16mg 2020-2026- tapered to 8-12mg depending on pain that day. I started tapering 6months ago.
Zepbound 10 pen weekly 2025-2026
Cosentyx 150 pen X 2 monthly
Vitamin D3

As needed meds-
Nurtec 75mg (migraines) guanfacine 1mg (anxiety/panic attacks) ,, dicyclomine 10mg (stomach pain) , zofran ( nausea), Pyridium 200mg(bladder pain)

BOTOX every 3 months for migraines
TRIGGER PT INJECTIONS ( bupivicaine) every 3 months for neck, back, hip & butt pain
EUFLEXXA knee injections every 6 months
STEROID INJECTIONS in hips and knees.
Weekly bladder installations
Already have done 9 months P. T and 12 months pelvic physiotherapy

Steve
SteveStaff3mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor · active
"I really just want to get my life back." — @HangInThere
I really feel you, thats the goal most of us have! You have come very far my friend and i really understand you want the pain gone - that has also been my goal. We need to stay tough for longer. You are a warrior in the psych wars and we stay here to support you! I did not like these suggestions either, but try to go outside and in nature from time to time. Also at several points, give your brain time to accomodate for longer, without tapering, cement the gains you got. But i see, you already have a lot of experience 💪👍🤝

off Stimulants (2000-2013)
off Fluoxetine (2010-2013)
off Lamotrigine (2013-2016)
off Quetiapain (2016-2020)

currently Effexor — 33mg — 13 years (from 300mg) — actively tapering | with clinician

Catina
CatinaStaff3mo ago
Community AnchorEffexor
"So my goal is to be on as little meds as possible" — @HangInThere
That's a very worthy goal, and continue to keep that in mind as you take this journey to reclaim your health and life! We'll be here to help you every step of the way. 🩷

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

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