Man claims painkillers turned him gay
He admitted he is very happy with his sexuality now
By Steve Brown
A man is claiming painkillers turned him gay.
Scott Purdy, 23, used to described himself as a hot-blooded heterosexual but after breaking his foot while go-karting, he was forced to take the painkiller Pregabalin – also known as Lyrica – and believes it caused him to change sexual preferences.
He told the Mirror Online: “I noticed my libido for women had gone and I was wanting male attention.
“I was with a girlfriend I had been with for around six months. I had never been interested in men. When I was younger I was a little bit curious but…
“A couple of weeks after I started taking it I turned around and said I didn’t find her physically attractive anymore. She knew I was taking Pregabalin.
“I said to her, ‘I don’t really know what’s happening to me’ and I told her I like men and I just can’t be with you.
“She was relatively understanding, as understanding as you could possibly be.”
The painkiller – which is created by Pfizer the same company who manufactures Viagra – is used to treat epilepsy, pain associated with the brain and anxiety disorder.
Side effects do include a loss of libido and mood swings, and Scott wants to know about his experience using the drug but said he is “very happy” and still takes the drug.
He said: “I just think people should know about this. If anyone gets prescribed this in the future, I think they should know what this medication can do.
“It took me a while to realise what it was. I stopped taking it for a few weeks and that desire for men just left.
“But I’m on it now; I’m very happy. I want to keep on taking it because it makes me feel happy about my sexuality. It’s made me feel very open. It’s liberating.
“Pregabalin is also used to control paranoia and anxiety. It made me so open and not bothered what people think or say.”
Scott recalled how coming out did “shock” some people as he posted the news on Facebook without telling anyone the reason why.
“It did come as a shock to people. I posted it on Facebook. I didn’t tell them the reason why but I just said to them, ‘I’m open; I’m gay’,” he added.
“Currently I’m talking to this lad on Plenty of Fish and in a couple of weeks I’m going up to see him. He’s in London.
“It’s really what I’m craving right now. I want to be with him right now.”