Fainting Caused by Lyrica

[Bathsheba]

I have been on a large dose of Lyrica (800 mg/day) for about 14 months. I also take Cymbalta and Tramadol. A few days ago, I keeled over face down in the grocery store. All of a sudden my heart started racing, then I got confusion and visual disturbances, I thought "I am going to faint" and the next thing I knew I opened my eyes lying on the floor looking up at 2 women who saw me fall. I have no recollection of actually falling. The whole experience from the onset of the rapid heartbeat to keeling over lasted only 10 minutes.

The EMT came and measured by blood sugar at 47 (50 or below is "low"). When I was stuffed with apple juice and chocolate my blood sugar came back to within normal. I had not eaten breakfact and only snacked for lunch, but I've done that many times in the past without keeling over.

This is an uncommon side effect of Lyrica. There is no other physical explanation for this episode of low blood sugar. As a result I have decided to either go off Lyrica completely or greatly reduce it. I have tried to reduce the dosage w/o success. If I miss a dose or am late, I get the blow torch up the anus.

My question is what to subsitute for Lyrica. Narcotics? Any ideas anyone.

[DoubleEdgedSword]

Have you been tested for diabetes recently? I'm on a very low dose of Lyrica (25mg 2xday), but I had many disturbing side effects when I started Cymbalta last summer. I had profuse sweating, dizziness, dry mouth, muscle tremors, confusion, some pain in my abdomen, and a killer headache that wouldn't quit.. When I went for my physical, the doc did a complete blood workup on me when I told him about the side effects (I was blaming the Cymbalta, he was blaming perimenopause), and I came back as 'technically' diabetic, although my doc said 'pre-diabetic'.

My doc went away on holidays and I went to a walk-in doc to see about my headache. She put me on Metformin right away, and within a week my headache was gone. It was because my blood sugar was so out of whack that I couldn't get rid of that, and had all those other symptoms. I can't believe neither the doc nor I looked at diabetes as the underlying cause, especially given that both my Dad and my older brother have it!

I'd urge you to get your blood tested so at least you can rule diabetes out first, then see which meds you can switch to.. I missed one dose of Lyrica one day, and I had a horrible pain flare too, although mine is in the vagina.

Good luck to you!

[helenlegs 11]

I don't know enough about all Lyrica side effects Bathsheba, but I haven't heard about anything like your experience happening or anything like it before.
However if the drug is effective for nerve pain something like Gabapentin (if you haven't tried that already) is the closest substitute.
I would follow Des's advice tho' and look to other causes and maybe stick with Lyrica for a while longer?? especially if it is working for you as finding effective medication for nerve issues,
Helen seems to be tricky.
Take care