The US FDA has recently issued a warning that Lyrica, Neurontin and other anticonvulsants could cause increase a patient’s risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Lyrica is the only drug to have FDA approval for the treatment of Fibromyalgia and both Lyrica and Neurontin are used in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
An FDA study of 11 anticonvulsants/antiepileptics found that people taking the medications had double the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared to those taking a placebo. The risk corresponds to an estimated 2.1 per 1,000 more patients in the drug treatment groups who experienced suicidality than in the placebo groups.
The FDA warns that patients who are currently taking antiepileptic medicines should not make any changes without first talking to their health care provider. It can be dangerous to come off these medications suddenly without medical supervision. Health care providers should notify patients, their families, and caregivers of the potential for an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors so that patients may be closely observed for notable changes in behavior.
The medications studied were:
Carbamazepine (marketed as Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol XR)
Felbamate (marketed as Felbatol)
Gabapentin (marketed as Neurontin)
Lamotrigine (marketed as Lamictal)
Levetiracetam (marketed as Keppra)
Oxcarbazepine (marketed as Trileptal)
Pregabalin (marketed as Lyrica)
Tiagabine (marketed as Gabitril)
Topiramate (marketed as Topamax)
Valproate (marketed as Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon)
Zonisamide (marketed as Zonegran)
Some of these drugs are also available in generic form. Although only these drugs were analysed, the FDA says that it “expects that all medications in the antiepileptic class share the increased risk of suicidality.”
February 9, 2008 at 5:19 pm
That’s scary! I just went off of Lyricda and Neurontin in the past month. No wonder I feel like I’m losing my mind.
February 9, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Actually that could be a number of things, including withdrawal and the resurgence of symptoms. Although it is good that the FDA has recognised the risks and has warned about them, it doesn’t mean people shouldn’t take the meds.
February 9, 2008 at 7:30 pm
True, withdrawal has been he$$.
I personally like Neurontin (not so much on the Lyrica cuz it didn’t work for me) but I don’t need it anymore.
Learning to pace and reduce stress has worked wonders for my FM, personally. It’s CFS that’s the worst for me.
June 24, 2008 at 1:40 am
Dayum. Does explain some things though.
July 3, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Lyrica is awful. The FDA needs to rethink Pregabalin. Yeah, it eased the physical pain for awhile, but this withdrawal from it is worse than any physical pain I ever experienced, even when I had my heart attack.
Gradual weaning off is just a waste of time, although it’s recommended. Now that I am 75mg every 2 – 3 days, I am irritable, anxious, teary, and everything is getting on my nerves. (Very unlike me.) I have chronic pain and have been through prescription addiction and withdrawals before, but not like this. I am used to a lot of things with my health since 1999, but what I don’t understand is if Lyrica is not addictive, how could I be having such a hard time discontinuing it? It has been several months since I have started decreasing in order to discontinue it. When I don’t take one I get WEIRD! (Like now.)
I sought relief of withdrawal from physician and was only offered anti-anxiety medicine! Yet they can’t decide what has elevated my liver enzymes and triglycerides. DUH!
Be very careful on Lyrica and when discontinuing it. Reports are now that suicide is linked to this medication. Sadly, I can understand that, as I am wondering if that is the only way I will ever feel normal again.
So I am questioning myself about everything…I am having a hard time thinking clearly; I question whether the cardiologist was indeed sexually groping me yesterday…I hear myself speaking to the nurse and listen as my voice abruptly stops in mid-thought.
I tell you the truth, if I did not know my God was in control of my life, I would hang it up now.
June 22, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Me too. I just started taking Lyrica and that’s all I can think about. It’s horrible.
July 6, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I am feeling a bit better, but still get agitated. Last Lyrica I had was Monday, 6 days ago. I refused to go out with friends July 4th and was honest and told them I did not want to take a chance and lash out at them. I really don’t blame them if they don’t understand. I can’t expect anyone to, really.
That, and the physical pain is still pretty bad. I do wonder if some of the physical pain could be related to the withdrawal. Yesterday I was sitting here working, and a huge pain hit my chest, and I wondered again if I could end up dead here at the house. I don’t think about that anymore, only when that pain hits…but I wonder what has my bloodwork screwy and no one is doing anything. – Bea Nice
September 12, 2008 at 4:45 pm
WOW thats exactly what has happened to me.I went off lyrica,which itook for Fibromyalgia’ the household was ready to killme as much as iwas ready tokill self,same thing as you God stopped me. However the pain and all the withdrawls this went on for a month,were way to much to bear so here i am taking Lyrica again, two weeks into it i’ve gained 10 pounda pain reduced somewhat personality more tolerable in other words, stopped withdrawal. so i feel trapped not being able to get offf this stuff.
March 29, 2009 at 12:32 am
Hello!
Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource!
PS: Sorry for my bad english, I’v just started to learn this language
See you!
Your, Raiul Baztepo
April 8, 2009 at 12:14 am
Hello !!!
My name is Piter Kokoniz. oOnly want to tell, that your posts are really interesting
And want to ask you: what was the reasson for you to start this blog?
Sorry for my bad english:)
Thank you!
Your Piter
June 4, 2009 at 8:15 am
I took lyrica for 2 weeks. I was not depressed – nothing bad going on in my life. One night I was clipping coupons and looking at the Trix bunny sent me into a crazy crying streak and i just wanted to die.
It was so bizarre I managed to figure out some insight that I was having a bad drug reaction.
I quit taking it and got better.
I sometimes wonder if I was one of these folks with fibro that ARE depressed, and who have family problems, maybe a divorce or something going on, if I would have been able to recognize what the drug was doing to me.
August 26, 2009 at 8:29 am
Lyrica definitely isn’t the drug for all Fibromites. I’m sorry to hear you had a bad reaction but glad to hear that you recognised it for what it was. I do think there needs to be more awareness amongst prescribers about the importance of highlighting dangerous side effects that the patient and their family should watch out for.
August 9, 2009 at 4:04 am
ditto on all of the above I will NEVER TOUCH Lyrica again. It is dangerous-feeling of loosing your mind, cerebral edema, body edema, can’t get off of it, rebound pain worse than the first pain, debilitating fatigue, suicidal thoughts. Had to open capsule and dump part out to reduce dose. That helped, but eventually you have to bit the bullit..good luck to those who suffer from this drug. Those thinking about taking it–DON’T!
August 26, 2009 at 8:27 am
Lyrica doesn’t work for all, but for some it really helps. I’m sorry you had an extremely bad time with it.
October 11, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I can’t wait to see my GP tomorrow and ask to stop both Lyrica and Keppra. Together, although they have controlled my epilepsy for a couple of years, they are a LETHAL combination. I am losing my mind, crying all the time, and would end it all if I didn’t have such a good support network. I would rather have seizures than endure the emotional pain and debilitation these drugs are causing me.
HELP!!
October 31, 2009 at 7:09 pm
lYRICA WORKED GREAT FOR ME, AS AMATTER OF FACT IT HELPED ME GET OFF NARC”S FOR PAIN.
NOW THAT IS A WITHDRAWL. i DIDN’T GET THAT WITH LYRCIA……….EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT I GUESS. GOOD INFO TO KNOW THOUGH. THANKS
November 6, 2009 at 12:14 am
if anyone has any advice on how to go off neurontin please let me know. i feel like im absolutely going out of my mind even if i reduce the dose by 100mg. i was up to 3600 for a few months then to 1800 then 600 and had to go back up to 1200. i feel like ive developed chronic pain that i never had before taking neurontin. ive gone through vicodin and ativan withdrawal and it was nothing like this. it was a walk in the park compared to this. i honestly dont know how im going to get off it….