Pregablin? Meds for anxiety?

[MainlyAnxious]

Hi. Does anyone have any advice for dealing with extreme anxiety? I'm on mirtazapine currently, but it's just not tackling the underlying anxiety. Can't touch ssris - they ramp up the anxiety tenfold. I have read about pregablin, but not sure gp can prescribe? Are there any other options? I literally can't function, can't sleep.

Pregabalin isn't usually used for anxiety, especially as it can cause anxious / suicidal feelings, usually a pain killer and its original use an antiepileptic.

I think it’s addictive. I took it for nerve pain. Zombie effects. I did not like it.

Pregablin is often prescribed for depression/anxiety nowadays. It's meant to be a bit of a bastard to come off, but then again aren't most of them?

Think a zombie feeling would be preferable to what I'm feeling right now. If it's no good, are there any alternatives that aren't anti depressants?

I was prescribed it for anxiety, I didn’t find it hugely helpful and it caused me to sleep eat, I’d get up in the morning and find open cupboards and empty packets

It is very addictive, I had to increase dose suddenly for pain reasons and why I tried cutting back quickly, I had awful withdrawal symptoms and had to increase it again to fade it to a lower dose, which hasn't really happened as you also get used to it so need more for the same effect. I also have constant suicidal thoughts as a side effect from it, wouldn't reccomend if there is any alternative!

I found it to be a miracle drug for me. It worked like magic. I haven't tried to come off it but I will in due course.

Everyone is different but pregablin made me incapable of work. Literally I was not a responsible person when I took as prescribed. It may be worth trying at the right dose

Oh god, all this sounds so awful. Not what I wanted to hear. I'm utterly at a loss as to what to do.

Did your gp prescribe it? What dose? Glad it's worked for you

I was prescribed it for something else but it is incredible for my anxiety- i had given up on anything helping after trying everything over the years.

Took a bit to settle in to it (very drunk and uncoordinated when i started) but it has been a game changer for me.

Oh that sounds so positive! I'm at your point, gp has exhausted everything so I'm hoping pregablin might be the answer.

Sertraline worked well for me for years but it took several weeks to kick in and that was tough.

Im on venlafaxine now and it’s pretty good.

Pregablin was useless for me.

Hey Op ,
I'm so sorry you're struggling.

I have taken pregablin for about 7 years now for my anxiety. It worked really well for me. I am on the highest amount allowed though so when I had a breakdown due to a very traumatic event 3 years ago they had to put me on some new meds aswell. So now I take pregablin and venaflaxine and for me they work. It is classed as a controlled drug and is apparently v addictive but I know I'm going to be on it for the long haul so that doesnt bother me massively.
It gave me a calmer feeling rather than a zombie feeling which helped massively.

Anxiety is a symptom and not a diagnosis. Pregabalin is for GAD. It will not work for other causes of anxiety. There are other antidepressants that are not SSRIs but the initial exacerbation of anxiety is normal and would usually go away after a few weeks and then you see benefits. CBT plus an SSRI is 1st line for anxiety disorders and works for most people. Non antidepressant options are mainly addictive.

Thank you for your response, that's so helpful. So good to hear that you recovered. I'm desperate for help. It's gone beyond normal anxiety, far beyond. I had a breakdown some years ago too, and I've never had meds that helped enormously. I'm really hoping gp will give pregablin a go. I can deal with depression, but anxiety is literally preventing me from functioning - constant panic attacks, head full of whirring thoughts, can't sleep...

I get it @MainlyAnxious it stops you from functioning doesnt it. You need to be very clear to your dr that you need something new. If at all possible have a face to face meeting too. I had an awful situation when it was over the phone and she ended up prescribing me prozac which led to complete breakdown. It was jist awful.
Saying this gently but I do think counselling is really important too. The meds dampen the anxiety but talking helps to get tools to sort it. I have jad several types of counselling but when my anxiety was really bad they discovered I had ocd. The counselling I had for that was so helpful.

I take pregabalin for anxiety. Feel like it literally saved my life! Had to have it prescribed by a psychiatrist. I titrated up slowly but the calming effect was almost instant. Has been an amazing drug for me.

Thank you for your kind words. It's so hard to describe how anxiety affects me to those who have never experienced it. It's literally stopping my life. I agree I need therapy too, but until I can keep the anxiety in check I don't think I could cope with it right now.

Exactly, I feel like meds give me a platform I can get up on to then manage other stuff (life, counselling, self care etc) a lot better. Good luck I hope you can get the help you need x

Exactly this. At the moment I am just not coping day to day at all, my phone is permanently on silent as I can't even cope with a phone call. Until I get the meds that work, to stabilise me and not get caught in the trap of anxious thinking, I can't move forward and adopt better strategies. Thank you for your kind words, it's so helpful to have someone understand

If you get the meds and want a hand hold please feel free to comment here or DM me :)

Appreciate that. X

I think pregabkin is good for calming you down but needs a psychiatrist to prescribe, not a gp. Have you tried venlefaxin? Im thinking of trying it. If not, I’ll ask a psychiatrist for venlefaxin x

I take pregablin alongside escitalopram for anxiety. Had exhausted everything else and in a total mess-wasnt functioning at all. It definitely helps although I still am still really struggling and have frequent panic episodes Its reduced severity and frequency. I think it does make me more tired and spaced out but I also have other health conditions so it's hard to know what is what!