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AIBU?

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Pregabalin in pregnancy

5 replies

Saoirse82 · 04/07/2021 23:29

I know I'm posting in AIBU but I was hoping I might get more responses from here. I fell pregnant after thinking it would never happen, we've done ivf which ended in miscarriage and I ended up getting pregnant naturally after being off birth control for 7 years, we'd given up 'trying' years ago. I've been on pregabalin for neuropathic pain for 4 years and was on the highest dose when I got pregnant (600mg), my GP knew very little about this drug and pregnancy (I'm assuming, as I had to tell him I needed my dose of folic acid upped after reading about it on nhs website) and the EPU told me to speak to my GP who told me I didn't have to come off it, I told him I wanted to so he recommended tapering. It took me til I was 16.5 wks pregnant to be off it completely, it has been difficult as as not only does it control pain it helps with anxiety and I'm very anxious in this pregnancy as its taken so long to get here and also because of the meds. I've had my 20 week scan and everything looked OK but I'm still worried and feeling guilty. Im finding that I'm even more anxious now these past few weeks and feeling very emotionally fragile, and I've had to take 25mgs here and there when things have got bad and of course this then makes me feel even more guilt, shame and fear. The midwives I've spoken to know nothing about pregabalin, one didn't even know what it was or what it was taken for and the other had no info on it during pregnancy. Bumps website says it appears to be safe in pregnancy but not a lot of studies and others say its got a higher chance of birth defects. I already feel that I'll beat myself up about this and feel terrible guilt whenever I look at my child. Does anyone have experience of pregabalin during pregnancy or know of anyone who has been on it? There is very little online. Thanks to anyone who replies.

OP posts:
chiatta · 05/07/2021 01:21

Hi, I’m sorry I don’t have any new info but I just wanted to reassure you, please don’t feel bad or guilty, you are doing your best. It’s great that the 20 week scan was good.
I had a perinatal psychiatrist who was able to provide the most info about my medication (which wasn’t prevailing)when I was pregnant but for one of them there was very little research done. I ended up stopping but had the odd dose here and there when I really needed it and wasn’t sleeping. I too felt quite worried and guilty.
There are certain medications that are definite no’s for pregnancy eg sodium valproate, which should never get given to women of childbearing age.
Try to hold on to the fact that your 20 week scan went well. I hope your anxiety improves

chiatta · 05/07/2021 01:21

*pregablin not prevailing

MaskingForIt · 05/07/2021 01:47

When I was on pregabalin I was told that if I got pregnant I would need to have an abortion, and the GP spent quite some time labouring the point and talking to me about birth control.

Since your 20 week scan looked okay I suspect your baby is fine, and that my GP was possibly going overboard putting the frighteners on me.

Sadie77 · 31/08/2022 13:08

Hi I'm in the same situation didn't know I was pregnant and was taking pregabalin, I've cut down to 50mg daily and hoping to to go down to 25mg and then stop for good, going cold turkey. Madee me very ill ...
I pray you and baby are well and everything went well please let me know all went well so I can feel a little reassured thank you x

Saoirse82 · 19/11/2022 23:23

Just to update. My daughter is 12 months old. And is a beautiful, sociable girl. The light of my life. She was diagnosed with horners syndrome when she was 3 months old. It's a neurological condition of the nervous system affecting the eye. Her eye looks normal and sight is normal its just the pupil is ever so slightly smaller when the light hits it. It was a very traumatic time though when she was diagnosed as it can be caused by some sinister things but in her case it is congenital.

I believe BUMPS have now updated their advice on pregabalin in pregnancy. There are some studies that have shown that exposure to pregabalin in the womb can cause similar conditions. She has hit all her milestones but is showing some red flags for autism for instance she doesn't like prolonged eye contact or close up (no eye contact during feeding etc) and has poor name response, there are some other traits that I'm keeping an eye on. On the other hand she is a very smiley, sociable baby. Loves people and other children is interested in the world around her and pointed, clapped and waved within normal time frames.

Whether the pregabalin has caused anything I don't know but I suspect it caused the horners. I was on a very high dose. I was on 500 mg a day after my positive test, 600 my before that. At my 7 week scan I was on 400 mgs. I don't want to scare anyonebut I feel I need to update this thread to tell other women of my personal experience. Please know that my daugher is hitting all her milestones, she's not walking and was late(ish) to crawl but she babbles away, waves to anyone that passes her, points to literally everything. Wants to show me things, tries to feed me. She's doing great but there are a few niggles.

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