Pregabin vs Gabapentin (oh and spinal fusion info too)

[PancakesAndMapleSyrup]

Halo Mn's! has anyone been on Gabapentin and then changed to Pregablin? Im rather nervous as ive had no side effects from the gaba but its no longer working and i must now chnage over to pregablin. The side effects lists seem to be huge for this drug, does anyone have any experience?

Also ive had a spinal fusion L5 S1 and whilst mobility is better the pain is still horrendous. If you had a fusion how long until your pain subsided? Its been 4 months now and i still cant do an awful lot its debilitating. I am on buprenorphine patches, copious amounts of zomorph, baclofen, the list goes on.
Im having physio but they are at breakibg point so my appts are 4 weeks apart.

Any advice or experiences on the above woukd be helpful.

I'm just today going to start switching over to pregablin from gabapentin and agree the list looks awful. Come and join us on the Back Pain thread, there are quite a few of us in similar sorts of positions. We don't have all the answers but we can whinge and chat.

Yes I switched. No real side effects but ai noticed that the beneficial effects wore off quickly and I had to raise the dosage to get the same effect. Now I want to reduce the pregabalin but I feel dreadful when I try. Anxious, agressive, angry and not my usual self at all. I wish I'd never started on the bloody thing.
I would seriously caution anyone against starting on it if they can possibly avoid it.

Oooch merdealor!!! It sounds horiffic!, ive just started them today 150mg, but im sore and its extremley painful so i need something!

Mathildathe cat, do you have a link fir the back pain thread i cant seem to find it!! Nice to hear there are a few others around!

I've just bumped it to the top, Back to Back Trouble. The thread is nearly full but we will start a new one. You will be very welcome. Lots of us with persistent and sever problems. However we like to chat and exchange info.

Merde, are you saying that you were worse on pregablin than gabapentin? I was hoping for less cognitive fogginess not becoming a ratty old witch .

Sorry, pancakes, meant to ask about how you find the patches? This is probably my next step.

I exchanged some of the MST for Pregabalin about six months ago, with around a six-week changeover period. I've not felt any worse, and it does mean I can have an increased dose if necessary. For once, I've not read about possible side-effects; but it seems I should do so.

Sorry Matilda only just caught up on this thread. I've found gabapentin and pregabalin about the same in terms of effectiveness. In fact the prgabalin has helped me get some restorative deep sleep which has been very beneficial.
I do have brain fogginess but that is caused by the encephalitis and other drugs, not by the pregabalin.
I would caution anyone against stopping pregabalin quickly. It's a very powerful drug that can cause seizures and numerous other problems with quick withdrawal.
Everyone who starts on it should do so with their eyes wide open to the possible side effects and withdrawal effects.

Hi, the pregablin is giving me very deep sleep whick is wonderful, BUT it is wearing off quickly for the pain not so good. Head is slightly fuzzy and a do get a bit confused but they are going to have to up the dose as the pain is still too much! Matilda the patches are wonderful i get on really well with them ive now settled on the transtec 35dose as there is no point going up any more due to tbe amount ofzomorph im taking.