Pragabalin for anxiety

[PharmaDraaama]

Its been suggested that I try it.
Has anyone tried it and what has your experience of it been? Was it helpful, or were side effects bad?

I take it for nerve pain but it does give you a sorta had 3 glasses of wine niceness, I'd imagine it would be pretty good for anxiety.

Thanks for your reply. Doesit make you a bit groggy or just the nice wine feeling? Worried about how I’ll manage at work. Have you had weight gain?

<little bump>

It works really well for anxiety. It’s also quite ’hot’ as a street drug because of the feeling it gives. It can cause withdrawal symptoms so you have to reduce slowly when you’re ready to come off it.

I’ve tried it on and off. I’ve just started again at a low dose as my anxiety was out of control. It’s early days yet, but my psych says he’s had good results with it.

Have you found that if affects your thinking at all? How quickly does it work for you?

I’ll be sure to taper off it slowly when the time comes @MildlyAnnoyed

I’ve only been on it for 10 days or so, 25mg x 3 a day , so I haven’t really noticed anything yet. I tried earlier in the summer but moved up doses too quickly and felt too tired to function. I haven’t noticed any impact on my thinking so far although someone at work said I seemed less happy than usual.

I take it for anxiety alongside escitalopram. It's helpful to a point although I'd say my anxiety was still quite bad.. I struggle with side effects like it worsening fatigue, brain fog and sleepiness but I was on a high dose so have reduced it, which has helped a bit but anxiety has got worse again.

I asked my gp about it and the impression he gave was that it was an absolute 'no'. Not available for anxiety because of the possibilities of dependence and abuse.
I was a bit surprised because i had read of its use for anxiety. But, on balance, I'm glad not to have access to this short-term and problematic fix.

Thank you for that reply.
Do your side effects go away after a while or is it permanent for you?
If I do start it I’ll ask to start very low.

@MyThreeWords it sounds like you must’ve found an alternative that helped you. I’m happy you don’t feel the need to try a medication you’re not comfortable with.

I think side are ongoing but I'm on other meds and have other conditions which probably exacerbate things and definitely less bad when I'm taking a lower dose. The highest dose just left me feeling like I was in a bit of a dream really.