Lyrica is considered an anti-epileptic, or anticonvulsant, drug that stabilizes electrical activity in the brain and slows down the impulses that send pain signals across the nervous system. Lyrica is also used to treat fibromyalgia pain as well as pain caused by nerve damage seen in patients with diabetes or herpes. Although Lyrica is not considered addictive, stopping it too quickly after long-term use can cause side effects.
Headache and Stomach Problems
Nausea, diarrhea and headaches are commonly experienced by those who stop taking Lyrica abruptly. While some users slowly reduce the dosage over the course of a week, the exact course of Lyrica weaning will depend on your Lyrica dosage, the length of time you have been taking the medication, and whether you are beginning new medications to treat your condition. A medical doctor should be consulted to determine the proper way to stop taking Lyrica.
Seizures
If you are using Lyrica to treat epilepsy, it is likely that seizure activity will actually increase if you quit the drug abruptly. This is a potential side effect shared by all anti-epileptic medications. Manufacturer Pfizer recommends that patients withdraw gradually over a minimum of a 1-week period and get advice from a health care provider.
Insomnia
Sudden withdrawal from Lyrica can result in sleeping problems, most notably insomnia. As mentioned previously, it is imperative that Lyrica be tapered gradually over a minimum period of 7 days.
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