I have been on Pregabalin since June of this year and since about September/October, I have noticed my smell and taste change significantly. It’s not covid as I’ve already tested twice, so I can only relate it to medication, chemical imbalance or something more physical (brain related).
Everything around smells really bitter and sour and I’m struggling to eat some of my favourite things because my taste and smell are SO altered. My body odour has changed and smells really pungent, to the point where I’m sometimes showering 3/4 times per day, but it doesn’t help. My partner can’t smell any differences at all, so I know it’s just me that can smell them.
The bitter and sour smells I get are also transferring to my tastebuds, and I’m beginning to taste the bitter/sour smells without even eating, so it’s like the smell is transferring to my saliva, which is really bumming me out.
I’ve started getting a lot of headaches too, but a new symptom so have noticed in the last wee while is that mid conversation, I completely forget what I’m talking about and go off in a tangent. I have also noticed my head feels like cotton wool most of the time, and that it feels like I’m slurring my words a lot.
Do any of the symptoms ring true to anyone? I’ve tried finding information in every area of the internet and had no luck. I have called my doctors, but no one seems interested at the moment.
Any help would be appreciated.
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nurseblue
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Hi there. I am on a small dose of Pregabalin/Lyrica. I have not experienced any of what you write in this post, but what you write in your profile cqught my eye. Can I ask if you felt angry before being put on Pregabalin? If you became angry because of the medicine, you are not the only one. I am on my way off the medication for this reason. I would offer you to pm me if it made you more comfortable, but my messages are screwed up right now.
Hello. Thanks for your reply. Regarding anger before medication, I can honestly not really. I find my fuse is MUCH shorter and I’m getting angry at the smallest things. I wonder if pain is also a cause though, cos my pain certainly doesn’t help the situation. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask
You're welcome. Here is my experience:I started on 75mg Lyrica. I quickly noticed getting angry at the smallest things. I got angry, my thoughts got abnormal and I got paranoid. I noticed it and so did my family. Since I wasn't any of these things before the medication, I knew there was a connection. I am now down to 25mg and am feeling more myself.
You might be right about the pain too; who knows! I'm sorry about the pain.
I started in Lyrica at 50mg in June, 3 months after my pain started as no doctor would listen to my concerns and didn’t believe that I was in this much pain. I was admitted to hospital for severe uncontrolled pain and was increased to 150mg along side as required Oramorph. I remain on this dose and have another appointment with my Neurosurgeon in March to discuss surgical options.
It’s frustrating when you know there is something really wrong but no one believes you. Luckily I have found a doctor who actually listens to me, and has done everything in their power to help me as much as possible.
Thanks for sharing your story really appreciate it
Man, do I ever hear you there! So freakin' frustrating! I just stuck to the points of my story that I thought would be of most interest to you. I didn't tell you that it was hard to convince my neurologist my suspicious about Lyrica and that I needed to get off it. It was hard work. First time I told him, he might as well have said "I don't feel weird, so why do you?" I wasn't granted my wish the first time around.I'm glad you now have a doctor who listens to you; that's wonderful!!👍
It’s so nice to know there are others out there that have similar symptoms and are experiencing side effects. That’s why these forums are good! Trying to explain exactly how you feel at the best of times is hard, but when you have loads of side effects, some of which are really difficult to put into words, is frustrating. I’m glad you managed to get through to your Neurologist 😄 x
Isn't it, though?! It's great! I'm sure it will help others. I used to be on the RLS community (why I'm on Lyrica). This post is making me think back to what all the complaints were. They were mostly all about weight gain.
I’ve joined various communities as a lot of the pain related one will have someone in Lyrica, so likely to find answers somewhere.
Weight gain has been a HUGE issue for me (4 stone since April) due to me being unable to exercise.
My formal diagnosis is 2 large herniated discs (C5-6 & 7-8) with C5 nerve root compression and borderline spinal cord compression. Multi level disc bulges, the cal sac tears, new L3-4 disc herniation, L3-L4S1 large disc bulges. Went undiagnosed from March to June and was told to take paracetamol to deal with the pain.
Can imagine why I was hospitalised in the June 😅
I work as a nurse in a busy medical ward, so that’s where the majority of the damage has happened, but has more than likely been building up over years.
I was off work from March - November, but I’m finally back to work doing the covid vaccines just now. So happy to be back at work doing something x
Actually, that was another one. Someone had complained about them gaining weight and someone had responded that it wasn't the med, but rather one's appetite increase.
Ok what I mean is the medication doesn’t literally put weight on your self.
But what the med does is gives you cravings for anything.it may be cereal if you fancy that or a choc bar.
Is that clear enough for you.
Hmmm I feel you picked at one other post ?
Yup I do tell the whole story and I’m certainly not going to excuse my self for having adhd a mental health issue.in that package of adhd one can be very local and yes as they say around the houses.
Oh sorry I hope I didn’t offend you as your last message to me just seemed a bit odd in that I’m implying it’s the persons fault for eating to much and being over weight.
I wasn’t implying it was any ones fault but taking meds has it’s risks.
And sure I’ve had dinner had my meds and I could have gone to the sweet shop and bought every thing in site but I didn’t I had a cup of tea or a biscuit.
So taking meds you kinda have to take responsibility for your actions ?
Oh, I see. No, that was not implied at all. I was relaying what someone on another community had said aboyt Lyrica and it apparently didn't come out right. I am so very sorry.
You know it’s so much nicer speaking to ppl as apposed to messaging or texting as I feel some of the feeling gets caught up in the translation of what one is trying to get across.
I must also apologise as some times it’s just an over active mind lol
Oh, thank God! You got my heart going. I would never ever ever deliberately hurt anyone. I am soooo very sorry. Yes, we only get the cold words and not the emotion and inflection behind them when texting.
Well I think as we do work so hard on our selves what would be the point if we didn’t have a little giggle now and then.
When I go out and about shopping or what ever the occasion maybe.i make it a point to make Atleast one person smile as if the kind words I may have said or laugh.
It’s my little way of just lifting the hearts of ppl who may be struggling and I am always in the hope that the smile that was made shall skip to the next person.
After all,do you know why ppl have adhd ?
I’ll let you in to a little secret lol
It’s our duty to keep the planet spinning around other wise all the miserable ppl on the planet would grind it to a halt and well,I don’t mind a floating experience but possibly not to fall of the edge of the planet.
May I just say.yup I do have adhd and when I’m on par it’s amazing to have once fully harnessed.
I will say How ever this is not meant in any way to offend miserable ppl( disclaimer)
I will say this though,if you can’t laugh at your self and make light of your predicament
Well that’s it folks
I’m retiring now.
Oh god end of day tablet time lol
To all of you here and the ppl who have fallen of there chairs bored stiff and not finished my book length words
HAVE A WONDERFUL HAPPY NEW YEAR
Remember though.
In life if you want it you’ve to go get it it won’t come to you I’m afraid
Unless your the lucky person who’s won the lottery
Hi again. I've been mulling over the adhd post you said I picked on, trying yo figure out where I would've done that. Did I pick on an adhd post? If so, I didn't mean to and I apologize. Can you let me know because sometimes I can say things that are misconstrued by others (and vice versa).
Sorry I didn’t reply?i had an urgent matter and had to pop over to nasa.wow there space shuttle rides are well fun.gonna have to get a season ticket
Any way I’ve landed now back to reality.
Ha ha only joking but then you would know that.lol.
Fell asleep.
I think I read one of your posts to some one about neurogical problems which was right after my post.
You were saying you just get to the point and you don’t spend ten minutes getting to the point.something like that.
But before hand I had mentioned about adhd which is a neurological issue but I kinda wrote an A4 size of writing so I guess I just linked it together that’s probably why I went on the defensive.
About a year ago I wrote somet which upset them but they wanted the honest truth.after all why not tell some one the truth if they want to hear.this is the best part.8 months later some guy called me a jumped up egotistical person and I should clean up my grammar.he then thought he was clever by telling me to read a certain book.
First of if I upset some one that wants the no frilled gods honest truth it’s not my problem if they have a problem that they need to sort out them selves.
Any way the guy who picked up on my message 8 months later I guess he just wanted to stand out as I guess he needs to bully ppl to make him self feel good about him self as he probably feels like a gold fish most of the time or he is 60 and still lives at home.
So from me to you.im also sorry if I took it or read it the wrong way.
I’m pretty laid back most of the time and I think I’m all the 4-5 yrs I’ve been on here I’ve only had two ppl call me an ass.but it wasn’t even then that the message was for them it was for some one else.
I think perhaps they do that because they will get a thank you from the person they were defending all because they need a pay on the back
So that’s all.
Ok I’m to the space station to go shopping for helmets and a new suit lol
Thanks for getting back to me. I had to read this a couple times before I understood (brain's slow today, thanks to a bad night last night). I recall posting about my neurological disorder (I have one too,) but I do not recall saying what you say I said. I tend to write essays too. Might you have me mixed up with someone else? It happens, though. Going on the defensive also happens, so no sweat! This does help, though. Although I don't recall saying that, I now know to be extra careful to take into account what others might think. For this I thank you!!
The gist is I would never intentionally hurt you or anyone else.
I moved about month and a half ago about 1 mile away from the sea back inland and my nose is constantly blocked and I don’t have a cold.its most probably the antihistamine I’m on for sleep and allergic reactions to my stomach.
Do you find you get cravings of just eating anything ?that can be the pregabalin.christ dihydrocodeine will change your taste and dry your mouth out ta boot.
I’m on pregabalin 100mg in morning and 125 at night.its used of licence for mood stability.
I used to be on dihydrocodeine when I was 18 and the doctor just handed them out like smarties god knows how many I was taking but it just made me happy but didn’t get rid of pain.
I’ve now stopped all pain killers apart from pregabalin as I’ve ulcerative colitis.
But have a think about this
I fractured my spine at 18 didn’t find out about it when I was 28.after fracturing my spine I was discharged with in 4 hours and also was concussed.
So I’ve always been in chronic pain and yes it makes you feel like life isn’t worth living.
So went back to my amazing psychiatrist and he has put me on duloxetein.
Omg how amazing.none or very very little pain and I’ve not had a miserable stomach pain for months.
There antidepressants but amazing for pain.
So I dropped 4 tablets a day for 120mg if duloxetein.
I wake in the morning having had an amazing nights sleep I stretch and yawn like I did when I was younger.i can stretch because my body lets me.
I’m not saying come of your tablets and swap but from my experience and looking at your meds you could dump 3 meds.
(I’m not telling you to suddenly come of your meds) but it may be worth seeing your doc or pain clinic etc
I wonder if I’ve maybe got a sensitivity to one of the medications that I’m on? With considering at least.
I’m eating anything at the moment, but more recently, I’ve been craving spicy and super sour things. I am probably dehydrated as I don’t drink nearly enough.
I’ve decreased my dihydrocodeine from 30mg four times per day to 30mg two times per day. I have to say, it certainly has helped me.
The thought of coming off the Pregabalin scares me as I don’t want the same pain I had when this all kicked off.
I used to be on setraline for anxiety and depression, so I wonder if it’s worth thinking about trying another mood stabiliser. I’m not particularly depressed as my pin is more controlled, but something to think about if I was to come off of the Pregabalin.
That’s incredible that you went that long without knowing. I can’t believe that you were discharged within 4 hours 🤨 I’m sorry this happened to you.
When my pain was at its worst, I was so ready to just sleep and not wake up again cos the pain was so severe!
Personally I would stay on pregabalin as it’s a safe known med long standing and has very very few side effects.
The oramorph ain’t to kind to ones body and that will dry then mouth out to.that and the codein will block a womens bowls like you wouldn’t believe.
I’m not saying take duloxetein for depression but it certainly helps with pain and also puts a spring in your step.its different to the other antidepressants as it has if I can get this right.a double neuro uptake inhibitor where as a normal antidepressant only has one.
It’s taken three months of sweets headaches dizziness but I’ve got through the other side and honestly it’s a bloody life saver.
I was on it about 15 yrs ago but I just got headaches so stopped it.
Pregabalin is a bitch to come of.
I’ve been on oramorph for 2 1/2 yrs waiting for a full hip replacement as had no cartilage left and I tear and some bone spurs.
Have a lovely day.
It’s actually sunny today but that storm last night wow
I tried gabapetine but it felt dirty to use.hard to explain.like my veins were full up of some toxic liquid.
Well done for cutting down good on ya.
Have a look at binaural beats.snd have a listen through some headphones.eaaier on a phone.there are apps.its safe to use and I use them a lot.
Put it this way when ever I go to the dentist even in mid winter it’s shorts and a very thin t shirt.as once the treatment is over o sweet so much with fear it’s like I’ve left a running bath.
I listened to the beats 10 mins in the waiting room.i went in there With a smile(unlike me)
I came out laughing and giggling and if there going to work for any one they worked for me(I’m a complicated bundle of vibrating vibrations)
I’m trying my best to meditate and do some positive thinking as much as possible. Hard when you are in constant pain, but I’m getting there nice smelling candles and keeping the place tidy so it looks nice.
20 yrs ago roughly I saw a sports physio at a gym.
With in 2 minutes of laying on the table she said to me.wow,are you in constant pain top half spine and chest.i said yes.tge skin is numb to touch but some time’s it feels as though some one has whacked a metal rod through my bsck and out through my chest.
Well she said did you know you have t7-9 fused wedge fractures.
Oh that’s why I can’t bend properly.
So any way I go get private x rays and sure enough there in black and white.
I came of the back of a motor bike at just under 100mph I was unconscious.
I got to hospital and just kept complaining of chronic pain.
Well yup 4 hrs later o can go home.
Any moving on quiet a few yrs.
I get to the muskeleetal clinic again for the fourth time.being examined each time.
I fill out the sheet describing where the pain is
I have injections in to the muscles each side of the spine.
Omg you wouldn’t actuly believe how much a short stubby needle hurts right on to a spasm muscles..
Any way a year after that I’m there again.
This time I get to see the top guy
Well you can touch your toes you’ve got bone degeneration of a 90 yr old arthritis in the neck and no suggestions of what to do.
His answer was.
Well you were probably born in pain so pethaps it’s somet to do with your birth.
So from behind me I take the xrays out.woujd this explain the pain sir ?
I fractured my spine and you didn’t even notice and yet your the lead clinician.
Oh he says well what do you want me to do about it.
Fix it.
So he goes of to another room.
Calls me and introduce me to a doc obviously works privately and works for the nhs when he feels like it.
He was so rude.
He’s like well even if we saw it all those yrs ago we couldn’t do anything about it.
What do you mean.
You had a brand new X-ray machine had just got an mri machine
Well you be ok nothing I can do see ya later.
Well there was a guy in the bed next to me with a fractured spine and he was all braced up so he would have less problems in the future.the guy just looked straight through me and ousted me out.
So I’m sorry but my liking for pain clinic and muskeleetal physios is well.
Like 2 1/2 yrs ago have a car accident.kept going to docs saying I can’t walk.ah yer just that’s all.any way you can’t be in that much Pain your smiling.
I always smile I’ve adhd you idiot.
6 months later I get to see physio different muskeleetal clinic 20 mild up the road.ok sir you’ve got the best person she is the lead clinician and specialises in pain.
Half hour later it’s all in your mind.
2 yrs mri scan oh yes I see why it hurts so much
Tear in cartilage 10mm bone wear so bone rubbing on bone 4 bone spurs and 3 benign tumours.
5 days later total new titanium hip replacement by private hospital paid by the nhs.
The consultant I dealt with at the Matt was so apologetic about the whole thing.
He said Christ how the hell do you manage to smile all the time and be positive when your in so much pain.
A year later I’m on the phone for an hour and a half to the same guy.
With in a week I’m sitting In front of him with a Pain physiologist with a master plan of how we can fix me support me and do every thing possible to help.
We keep in touch regularly with emails.
The funny thing is I suffer from tinnitus like omg my ear vibrates some times
He has told me about his tinnitus and I’ve got a consultant asking me the different things I do to help it.
Like exercises to own the tinnitus and ignore it.dont get me wrong it’s not easy.
If you know how loud an mri machine can get I can my tinnitus over that.
He’s actually a really good guy and we’ve drawn a line through the past and I now have proper support for the first time.
Yer so as I said it took 25 yrs of the same old crap but you push and push till you annoy them you should get some where.
I’ve adhd so I say his it is Straigt to the point try not to sound rude and offend any one.
So yup it’s probsbly yer that guy is moaning on the forum again.which to be honest I don’t do oftern.mostly it’s helping ppl on here through perhaps a similar experience.
It’s not easy to get the right path when your ill.some times it’s impossible to work it all out and if I can just give some one a little glimmer of hope by pointing some one in I hope the right direction that hadn’t even been thought of then excellent.
And hopefully when ppl read my boring droll words they may just get some thing from it.
When I tell ppl what has occurred through out my life they say and your still smiling pushing forward.
Your always trying to do better and yet you balance mental and physical illness like there going out of fashion lol.
OMG I’m so sorry I totally ignored how your trying your best.
I know it’s hard when you wake up and you feel no pain and it’s sunny and your full of hope then suddenly reality kicks in and here we go again more pain.
Just quickly what I learnt from a consultant a few months ago.
If you don’t sleep properly your brain can’t reset clear out it’s cache patch it’s self and sleep and awake the next all new.
So if you don’t get enough sleep which was part of my problem he said your brain is in a loop not stopping or resting and every time you sustain an injury or pain from some where else in the body the brain will continue in a loop ever more worse.
So I tried antihistamine tablets.
OMG I can’t believe how much less pain I’m in.
If I wake and my neck hurts I gather 2 more hours and I’m all good.
It’s just amazing how he was so correct.
So any one having problems with sleep and in chronic pain try sort your sleep out.
The good thing about antihistamine is that it gives you a real quality of sleep but not so heavy like a sleeping tablet that gives you a very deep sleep in that you feel shit in the morning and all stiff
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