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Pregabalin Withdrawal

10 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

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CONTENTS

Pregabalin or Lyrica is a popular anti-seizure drug for managing several conditions, such as fibromyalgia, nerve pain, and epilepsy. With millions of prescriptions dispensed in the UK alone, the prevalence of pregabalin abuse has increased over the past few years. This abuse makes getting off this medication increasingly tricky due to a withdrawal that hits almost everyone. As a result, the majority keep abusing pregabalin despite its negative consequences on life.

If you have been using Lyrica for an underlying condition and wish to stop without experiencing the uncomfortable pregabalin withdrawal symptoms, joining a suitable addiction centre can help. These centres have highly trained professionals and therapists to support and care for the patients in a healthy environment.

Individuals using pregabalin, either with a prescription or without one, can become dependent on it. In such circumstances, quitting cold turkey can lead to withdrawal effects that often persist for an extended period. Hence, such people are often advised to stop pregabalin slowly and steadily to avoid developing potentially life-threatening symptoms that include:

Headaches
Agitation
Mood changes
Nausea
Depression
Confusion
Anxiety
Increased heart rate
Suicidal thoughts
Sweating
Diarrhoea
Insomnia
Cravings for the medication

The withdrawal symptoms that shortly occur after stopping pregabalin all of a sudden can lead to multiple complications, some of which can be potentially life-threatening.

Dehydration

Specific withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and increased sweating can expel too much water from the body. Without adequate replacement, dehydration and an underlying electrolyte imbalance may occur.

Heart Problems

Rapid heartbeat or palpitations due to stopping pregabalin cold turkey can cause cardiac issues that may become life-threatening.

Seizures

Because Lyrica is commonly used to manage seizures, stopping it abruptly can cause them to recur, which may even prove fatal.

Overdose

Like other medications, abruptly stopping pregabalin can cause severe cravings and relapse. These intense side effects can often force individuals to overdose in an attempt to alleviate them.

Suicidal Thoughts

Pregabalin withdrawal often leads to psychological complications, such as depression and anxiety. If not managed in time, these emotional imbalances can induce suicidal ideation and increase the risk of self-harm.

The process of detoxing from Lyrica and overcoming its addiction can be very different for different users, depending on the amount of drug being consumed and the duration of addiction. You may develop symptoms ranging from mild to very severe, most of which are easily manageable with appropriate treatment.

The longer you have been using Lyrica and the higher the doses, the more likely you will need professional support to quit using it. Because of the uncomfortable withdrawal effects associated with its withdrawal process, many people consider joining an addiction centre to ensure their comfort and safety throughout detox.

Addiction rehabs are the best place to detox from Lyrica as they provide treatment plans tailored to each individual’s circumstances and specific withdrawal symptoms.

Addiction is a unique experience for every person; hence various types of treatment are available to address addiction. Participating in these formal addiction treatment programs can solidify recovery and connect with a sober support network. They also help individuals acquire a sense of accountability and learn and practice relapse prevention techniques. Another benefit is access to professional therapeutic interventions, peer support, and the provision of psychiatric support services.

The treatment for overcoming Lyrica addiction without the possibility of a withdrawal includes the following:

Detoxification

Dedicated detox facilities are working all across the UK to provide a safe and medically-supervised environment to quit using Lyrica safely. These centres often have counselling and medical professionals on hand to provide necessary support and emotional help throughout the detox process. Most rehabs offer detox as a part of a formal addiction treatment program as it increases the likelihood of long-term sobriety.

Medication-assisted Therapy

In addition to the detoxification process, some rehabs also initiate medication-assisted therapy to manage withdrawal symptoms in the best way possible. The choice of medications prescribed to each individual varies, depending on their history of substance abuse and tolerance to drugs in general. A detox expert will carefully analyse your past medical history and assess your current withdrawal symptoms to devise a medical detox protocol with one or more of the following medications:

Benzodiazepines to relieve anxiety and stress associated with other withdrawal symptoms
Anti-nausea medications to manage gastrointestinal distress
Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or other over-the-counter agents to combat muscle pain due to withdrawing from pregabalin
Clonidine to treat severe symptoms of pregabalin withdrawal, such as diarrhoea, anxiety, and migraines
Anti-seizure medications to prevent recurrence of seizures
Sleep aids to tackle sleeping difficulties and increase the quality of sleep

Inpatient Treatment Programme

This type of programme occurs within a residential facility where each patient lives in dedicated accommodations under professional supervision. The duration of these programmes may vary from 28 days up to 3 months or even more in some cases. The inpatient programme provides a structured and safe environment for the residents to undertake intensive therapeutic and medical interventions and break free from addiction.

Outpatient Treatment Programme

Outpatient recovery programmes allow individuals to seek help for pregabalin dependence while taking care of their personal and work responsibilities at the same time. Depending on the type of outpatient programme, some users may also get access to medical and psychiatric support.

Partial Hospitalisation Programme

A partial hospitalisation programme tends to provide medical care and intensive therapy sessions in a hospital setting. However, clients undertaking this programme do not need to live in a hospital and can return to their homes once they are done for the day. This type of treatment programme usually requires a higher level of commitment and is more rigorous than outpatient treatment.

FAQs

Why do people experience withdrawal symptoms of pregabalin?

It is essential to know how this medication alters your brain health to understand why pregabalin induces withdrawal symptoms. The human brain is responsible for the synthesis of certain chemicals, including serotonin and dopamine. With the prolonged use of pregabalin, the brain tends to rewire itself, generating sensations of pleasure every time you take it. These pleasureful activities eventually force you to lose all appeal in other life activities. Meanwhile, as the brain continues to adapt to pregabalin, it requires an increasingly high amount of pregabalin to achieve the same high. In such circumstances, when the body suddenly stops getting the drug it is adapted to, it responds by producing a range of uncomfortable symptoms, collectively known as withdrawal.

Is taking Lyrica for a long-term dangerous for health?

In general, Lyrica is safe to take on a long-term basis if you keep its consumption well within the prescribed amounts. Over more extended periods, some individuals may report developing mild symptoms, including vertigo and gastrointestinal upset. In higher doses, however, Lyrica can prove dangerous for the health, causing heavy sedation and seizures in some cases. It can even induce coma and prove fatal, especially when combined with other sedative substances such as heroin.

How long does it take to get addicted to pregabalin?

Pregabalin has been classified as a schedule five medication, meaning it has the lowest risk for abuse. However, this does not entirely negate the risk as many people using it, in the long run, end up developing an addiction in a couple of months. The amount of time it requires to develop tolerance and addiction to pregabalin varies, depending on factors like the amount and duration of the drug being consumed, the current health status of the user, and the presence of any co-occurring addictions.

Can pregabalin withdrawal cause death?

If you are coming off pregabalin correctly as a part of a medically supervised detox programme, the risk of experiencing any severe side effects is minimal. However, quitting cold turkey without any tapering, especially if you have been abusing it in high doses, can lead to many severe complications and even death in some cases.

How long does Pregabalin withdrawal last?

The pregabalin withdrawal timeline is different for each person and may last for varying amounts of time, depending on the individual health, weight, age, and the severity of the addiction. The acute symptoms of withdrawal generally last for a couple of days, while the residual symptoms sometimes continue for a few weeks before complete resolution.

How long does pregabalin stay in your system?

The half-life of pregabalin, the main ingredient of Lyrica, is around 6.3 hours. By definition, the half-life of a drug refers to the time it takes for its blood levels to reduce by one-half of its original value. Most drugs, including pregabalin, take around 5 to 5.5 half-lives to eliminate from the body completely. By this rule, pregabalin is expected to stay in blood or plasma for up to 35 hours. However, its clinical effects may completely wear off way before this time. On the other hand, it may take up to 6 days for this medication to completely exit the urine.

How quickly can I taper off Lyrica?

In most cases, it is recommended to reduce the pregabalin dose by 75 mg every alternate day until you are completely off of it. However, consulting a doctor is recommended as the exact process of tapering off Lyrica may depend on:

your diagnosis
how long and how much of Lyrica are you taking
whether or not you are on another medication
your age
format of the drug (immediate or extended-release)
any co-occurring disease that may alter its metabolism, for example, a kidney or liver disease

Withdrawal from Lyrica must always be medically supervised as the rate at which you taper off this drug may need adjustments even along the process.

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