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Lyrica Addiction

10 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

Fact checked

CONTENTS

What we don’t know can often hurt us when it comes to prescriptions. The same goes for Lyrica, a potent painkiller and anti-anxiety drug previously thought to be non-addictive and completely safe for use. Abuse of Lyrica and other similar drugs often begins with a false sense of security around its safety that arises because of a limited understanding of its effects. Under this false pretense, millions of people kept using this medication, eventually developing an addiction.

Now classified as a schedule five drug, everyone knows its potential for abuse and addiction. Lyrica is particularly addictive as it interacts with the reward and motivational pathways in the brain to alter brain chemistry. With repeated and regular use, drug dependence forms which ultimately leads to addiction.

Knowing the risks that accompany Lyrica use, the common symptoms of addiction and the available treatment options to overcome this issue is critical to saving yourself from long-term deterioration.

Lyrica or pregabalin is a prescription painkiller used to manage chronic pain disorders, such as neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. It works by interrupting pain signals sent to the brain to offer pain relief. Additionally, the medication also helps in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and epilepsy. Lyrica became a more commonly prescribed drug amidst the global opioid epidemic as experts thought it to be a safer and less addictive painkiller. However, over time, the rate of Lyrica addiction has been rising across the world and even leading to mortalities and promoting suicidal behaviors. This has prompted healthcare professionals to raise awareness regarding recognizing Lyrica addiction in time and seeking treatment for it.

Following are some of the most common symptoms of Lyrica addiction:

Taking Lyrica regularly in ways that have not been prescribed by a doctor, such as using it without a prescription, in higher doses, or more frequently than needed
Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that you previously used to enjoy
Developing signs of Lyrica tolerance, such as the need to take progressively increasing amounts of this drug to experience the same effects
Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
Mood swings
Showing hostility or irritability when not under Lyrica’s influence
Memory loss
Changes in personal hygiene routines, sleep patterns, or commitment to daily obligations like school or work

If you or someone you love is showing the possible signs of Lyrica addiction, it is important to seek help right away. A professional can guide you about how to best support yourself or your loved one in entering treatment.

While Lyrica addiction can hit anyone, some people are at a higher risk than others. These include:

People with legal prescriptions

A lot of people who are using Lyrica with a legal prescription, such as for anxiety, convulsions, epilepsy, and insomnia, may get hooked on it and start abusing it.

Prisoners

Lyrica addiction is particularly prevalent in prisoners who trade it for other commodities, like cigarettes. These individuals commonly use Lyrica to overcome their mental health issues or briefly reduce their stress levels.

People with a history of substance abuse

Research has shown that people with a past history of substance abuse are more likely to attain Lyrica addiction. For them, any substance with even the slightest euphoric properties can trigger addiction.

People with mental health issues

Lyrica or pregabalin helps treat anxiety and insomnia, two common issues that almost every person with a mental health disorder face. Such people are more likely: to abuse Lyrica for self-medication.

Lyrica withdrawal symptoms are incredibly uncomfortable and similar to those that occur during withdrawal from alcohol and benzodiazepines. The severity of these symptoms and duration depends on the frequency and longevity of Lyrica use. If you have been consuming this medication in high doses for a long time, the withdrawal symptoms may persist for up to two weeks. In contrast, those who use it in lower doses may recover within a week.

Acute withdrawal symptoms of Lyrica addiction manifest within 24 hours following the last dose and persist for up to two days. On the other hand, the residual symptoms may continue to linger for several weeks; however, they are easier to manage. The onset of these withdrawal symptoms is due to the underlying tolerance that the body and brain develop to Lyrica. When someone suddenly quits using the medication, the body gets out of balance and responds by producing these painful symptoms. Some common Lyrica withdrawal symptoms include:

Headaches
Agitation
Mood changes
Depression
Confusion
Anxiety
Suicidal thoughts
Sweating
Nausea
Seizures
Diarrhea
Strong cravings for Lyrica
Increased heart rate
Insomnia

Every addiction rehab has its processes and procedures, and what is applicable for one may not apply to another. In general, an individual who enters rehab receives a full psychological and physical assessment, following which a formal addiction treatment program commences. The first step of this treatment program is detox, an indispensable aspect of addiction management that involves clearing the body of the substance of abuse. The aim of this process is to help individuals get rid of any dependence they are suffering from so that they can entirely focus on recovery.

During Lyrica detox, most people undergo withdrawal along with its uncomfortable symptoms. Detoxing at a professional rehab allows clients to manage these symptoms through suitable medications under expert supervision to make the overall experience more comfortable. At the same time, the detox experts may slowly taper them off of Lyrica to the point of complete abstinence.

Some of the most common medications that most experts use to make Lyrica withdrawal more comfortable include the following:

Clonidine

The purpose of using this medication is to regulate blood pressure changes commonly seen in Lyrica withdrawal.

Dexmedetomidine

This prescription medication works in people who are unresponsive to clonidine for blood pressure regulation.

Sleeping Aids

Insomnia is one of the most common withdrawal side effects of Lyrica. To manage it, doctors may prescribe detoxing individuals a non-habit-forming medication, like Trazodone.

Miscellaneous

Other miscellaneous drugs prescribed for Lyrica withdrawal include nausea medication, anti-convulsant drugs, and anti-depressants.

Following detoxification, most people enter formal treatment to overcome the psychological aspect of their Lyrica addiction. Such treatment may take place in any one or both of the following levels.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient programs typically continue for one to three months and include a holistic and conventional treatment plan that involves regular therapy, comprehensive fitness and diet plans, and more. This program requires clients to stay on-site in specified accommodations where they can recover peacefully and securely among other people with similar issues. The staff members are available for help and support round the clock and adopt a non-judgmental and compassionate approach to encourage healing. Once an inpatient treatment program concludes, many people transition into outpatient treatment, a lesser-intensive treatment program.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment also takes place on-site but differs from inpatient programs as it does not restrict the clients from leaving their homes and residing inside the rehab. These programs are less-intensive and more flexible to accommodate people with real-life obligations and duties, like childcare and hectic jobs. Keep in mind that outpatient treatment is only suitable for those with lesser severe forms of Lyrica addiction who are at minimal risk of a relapse.

After the completion of formal rehabilitation treatment, most treatment centers offer aftercare services for up to one year to maintain long-term sobriety and recovery.

FAQs

Can Lyrica make you high?

Lyrica or pregabalin does not usually produce a high or euphoria similar to that produced by other painkillers, like oxycodone. However, it does induce a feeling of relaxation, which, along with pain relief, allows people to depart from the everyday reality of pain and take a break. So, some experts believe this relaxation is highly associated with Lyrica.

Why is pregabalin addictive?

Categorized as a schedule 5 drug, Lyrica is not highly addictive as other painkillers, like morphine and oxycodone. However, because it is still on the list, it automatically means that the medication does carry some potential for abuse, dependence, and eventually addiction. Most people do not develop any chemical addiction or physical dependence on it. However, its pain relief effects and associated feelings of relaxation may make others think that they need Lyrica to survive on a day-to-day basis.

How long does it take to develop Lyrica addiction?

While it is generally safe to use Lyrica, a small number of people are at risk of abusing and becoming addicted to it. The exact amount of time it may take to develop this addiction varies from one person to another. However, in most cases, it requires consistent use over a considerable amount of time. One of the most important key factors determining this time duration is the amount of Lyrica one consumes daily. If they are increasing their daily dosage over time or are taking the medication more frequently than prescribed, addiction is likely to occur sooner than expected. Similarly, people who have a family or personal history of addiction are also at a greater risk of developing a dependence on Lyrica more quickly than others.

How long does pregabalin stay in the body?

The half-life of Lyrica is around six to eight hours which means that the body may require up to two days to eliminate it from the system completely. However, sometimes it may remain inside for up to two weeks following the last dose. This prolonged stay in the body is because some of this medication enters the fatty tissue, where it accumulates. These fatty tissues then slowly release it back into the bloodstream with time. This is also why people abusing this medication continue to experience Lyrica withdrawal side effects for up to two weeks after discontinuing it. Those with impaired liver or kidney functions may find it harder to excrete Lyrica from their system.

Can I mix Lyrica with other substances?

Mixing Lyrica with other substances, including opioids, alcohol, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates, can be extremely dangerous as it significantly increases the risk of an overdose. Most of these substances act as central nervous system depressants and can, therefore, severely amplify the effects of Lyrica.

What are some common side effects of taking Lyrica?

Because of its relaxing effects on the body, many people consider Lyrica as an alternative to valium. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that along with all its possible benefits, this medication is capable of causing multiple dangerous side effects, especially in someone who is abusing it. These side effects include:
Constipation
Blurred vision
Confusion and agitation
Hallucinations
Swelling of hands and feet
Dizziness
Loss of coordination
Drowsiness
Depression
Dry mouth
Suicidal ideation

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