I had some really odd-ball side effects from Lyrica. I was on 15...

I had some really odd-ball side effects from Lyrica. I was on 150mg twice a day for fibromyalgia, and it seemed to work initially. I was feeling pretty good, and thought I, too, had found an answer to my aches and pains. After about two months, I noticed that my hair was falling out and turning gray (I was 39 at the time). I hadn't had a menstral period that second month, either. I told every doctor I saw about these strange symptoms, but was prompty ignored. The third month, I began to gain weight like crazy. I ended up gaining a little over 20lbs during the year-long treatment. My skin was dry and thickening around my thumbs and heels. My energy level began to really go down (it was never that high to begin with). My fingernails became brittle and broke with the slightest provocation. The grayer and falling out hair was coarser, too. I also was either sleeping all the time for days, or then couldn't sleep at all for days. By the sixth month, I noticed that my wounds were also taking longer to heal. Being diabetic for the last 29 years, I thought that maybe neuropathy was starting to set in. Up to that point, I had never had any signs of neuropathy, and always was in good control of my blood sugar levels. Now, I was beginning to get worried. The eighth month forward brought cracked heels, cracked toes, cracked fingers and thumbs. I began to have pitting edema, which I immediately informed my Rheumatologist about. I have chronic renal insufficiency, though not diabetic related. It was a gift from my OB/GYN during pregnancy when I became eclamptic. The edema was so bad that blisters appeared on my ankles and would not go away, no matter how high up I rested with my legs. My skin hurt all around my legs, and soon started to notice my face also swelling. Still, no comments from any of my numerous doctors. After a year of all this strange stuff, I took myself off of the Lyrica. It was a hard choice, as the meds helped to silence the strangling pain in my muscles. Within a month after discontinuing the drug, my period came back. Three months later I noticed that both my hair and nails were stronger, and my hair wasn't falling out as much. Six months later, and I notice now that my wounds heal like they used to. My hair isn't as coarse, and my nails are much stronger. My sleep schedule is still not right, and I still have the deep cracks and crevices to my thumbs and heels, but it is much better than it had been. I have also since tried Lamictal, but am having tachycardia and shortness of breath, along with a marked rise in my blood pressure. This, too, I discontinued and am feeling somewhat better. The muscle aches and pains and fatigue are back with a vengeance, but I will put up with them as long as I can. I am on so many meds anyway, that my body is probably kissing my toes in thanks! Luck to all who are on this drug, and hope it works for you without all the weird side effects I put up with!