I started taking Lyrica the end of January. Within about twenty minutes after my first dose I was having slight difficulty breathing, tightness in my chest, and, later, coughing. I continued taking it another couple days hoping the side effects would go away but they were getting worse so I discontinued it. Now, more than four months later, I am still having difficulty breathing and coughing. I am working with a pulmonolgist to find out what's going on. Has anyone else experienced lung problems as a result of taking Lyrica?

Hello Gina
I have been on Lyrica I think now for about 3 weeks and I have had the side effect of tightness in the chest some but not bad enough to stop taking it so far. I was diagnosed with asthma when I was very little had to take two kinds of medicine but my doctor thought I had out grown it but sometimes it still rears its ugly head. I just use a inhaler when I need it.The reason I was telling you this is I think that might be why I have the tightness in my chest from the lyrica because I have asthma. Because I will always have restriction in my lungs even thought I'm not having an asthma attack. Did that make sense?:dizzy: Sometimes I can't think straight (I hope you know what I meant). Have you ever had asthma? Just wondering. Take care
Trup20

Hi Trup20. I could see how your asthma could be playing a role in things but you should mention the tightness in your chest to your doctor and see what s/he thinks. I've never had asthma. At first, I figured I was just having an allergic reaction. If that's all it was, the problem should have gone away within a few days after I stopped taking the medicine. Since it has been over four months, I'm not sure what's going on.

After tests, tests, and more tests, the pulmonologist thinks I have developed asthma. I am now on a long-acting inhaler twice a day and will probably be given a fast-acting one to use as needed when I see him again in a couple weeks. The inhaler has helped a lot but my breathing is definitely not back to normal.

Gina, good lands that's an awful reaction to Lyrica. Sounds like an allergic reaction. I've been taking it since end of last year and never had that. After a hurricane in NC me and several other of my friends ended up with respiratory problems. We wondered if we weren't affected by something kicked up in the air. Accolade helped the same kind of thing that it sounds like you're dealing with. Hate that about Lyrica for you!