Pregablin - any experience

[kikashi]

I've suffered from Migraine Variant Balance Disorder (Migraines associated dizziness) for a few decades - originally for half that time misdiagnosed as Menieres. Anyway for the past 3 months it has gone into overdrive and I' ve basically been dizzy, had ear ringing, haevay head, aural fullness, some migraines most days. Only left thehouse to see GP who has been useless.

I privately saw a neuro -otologist last week who prescribed Pregablin. My GP is seriously unhappy about prescribing it (although he had no plan for my treatment). He says the practice have cut back on prescriptions by 90% as it is so addictive and implicated in so many deaths. He has given it to me but now I'm seriously scared to take it but need to try and heal my brain stem.

Any one have any experience of it (and coming off it?). I'm titrating up slowly from 25mg a day so won't reach a tehrapeutic dose for a while.

BUMP

I take pregabalin for fibro and other pain (50mg three times a day) - I'm not sure if the GPs are happy or not, but it was prescribed by two consultants, so they're overruled in any case .

As I understand it, the deaths were mainly in people who were also using heroin and other illegal drugs, and it was the combination of heartrate-lowering drugs which caused the problems, and not just the pregabalin ifswim.

For me, I don't know if I'm addicted or not, if i miss a dose I'm in rather a lot of pain, so I'm pretty careful to take each dose. I don't feel any of the euphoria that's supposedly the main reason for taking it illegally (maybe my does isn't big enough for that?). I am mentally slower, but that's a combination of meds, fibro and pain, I've put on quite a bit of weight (but again, I don't always eat properly - due to fibro and pain -). Increasing/adding a dose makes me very sleepy for a couple of days till I get used to it, but I was increasing by 25mg at a time per dose.

Therapeutic dose for fibro according to the rheumatologist is 100mg 3 times a day, so I'm on half that, and am considering whether to go back to the GP and see if they'll increase my prescription.

There's a consultation regarding whether to make it a Class C drug or not (which may mean no repeats prescriptions, and having to go back to the GP every 28 days, which, if it's the case, will seriously piss me off - and presumably the GPs as well), but that does seem to be driven by the illegal use of pregabalin, and not those of us taking it as prescribed.

For me it's great, despite the weight gain, I really notice when the next dose is due (currently in 30 minutes, and my pain level is about a 4 I'd say). Can't help with coming off it, but I assume you'd do it very very slowly.

MyVisions thanks ever so much for that. It's very interesting. I'm glad it has been helping you. I have read about the cognitive impairments - I suppose it's a trade off. I've also been on otherd rugs that promote weight gain - I'd rather feel well than be thin.

Yes, drug addicts using Pregablin in combination with other drugs seemed to be the problem in the stories I've read this morning. I'm due to take 25mg once a day for a week, then 2 a day for a week etc to titrate up starting tonight.

Just gotta do it I suppose as I really need to try to get functioning again.

I'm allergic to a few common drugs and had bad experiences on some others so feel quite drug adverse /anxious so the GP hasn't helped.

Thanks again - feel more reassured that ordinary people take it and that it can help.

I'm on pregbalin for CRPS, and though it really does take the edge off my pain, alas no euphoria and I'm not addicted.
I take 125mg twice daily, and it is easier to put weight on iykwim - not like steroids, but I am hungrier so have to manage that.

That's reassuring. Thank you CMOT

Just scaring myself over it - not sure why. The GP's attitude spooked me as usually they tell you a drug is lovely and then - I do have a bad reaction.

I also take pregabalin (as well as other things), for neuropathic pain and spasms. For me it is really helpful, and I have not had too many side effects after the initial tiredness/brain fog etc. I haven't had weight gain either - apparently only around 17% did in clinical trials, so you may be lucky!

I did have problems with severe constipation (sorry for TMI), and as a result reduced my dose from 600mg a day to 450mg. I won't lie - it was hell! I had sweats, headaches, anxiety, toilet troubles, problems sleeping etc, and that was reducing by 25-50 mg per week. It was worth it for me though, as not being on the pregabalin is worse.

My consultant told me that you are not addicted in the sense that you would be addicted to an opiate - it is more that your brain gets used to the drug, so when you reduce it, you have to readjust. Also, the longer you are on it, the worse it is to come off, so if you decided quite quickly it wasn't for you, it probably wouldn't be so bad. I had to come off gabapentin (structurally-similar) cold-turkey after a few weeks due to a drug reaction and barely noticed any effects.

I take it 150mg twice a day for Neuro pain.

I was on double that but the side effects were to much.

GP failed to mention those deaths were in people taking massive doses alongside other drugs and alcohol.

Recreational doseage around here is 1000mg as a start!

I took pregabalin last year to help with a chronic neck Pain.
It caused me disrubted sleep and almost insomnia
My mood changed and I eventually became so depressed I had a mental breakdown , it took me over 6 months to recover ...
Also it stopped working on stopping the pain

Cooking how awful for you. I hope you are better. Thanks Rosey Silly and lyrebird _ I had dreadful constipation with Amitryptiline so am bracing myself for it. I did read about the drug deaths and how it is especially dangerous in combination with the other drugs addicts take. I'll just have to be brave and take it and see.

I think I'm especially concerned about the sort term memory effects, slurring etc. I think I've become very drug adverse/anxious as I had a bad anaphylactic reaction to erythromycin and thought I was dying a few years back. I don't like the idea of drugs that mess with your mood but I need to do something as I'm a wreck at the moment and been bed or housebound all summer with dizziness and imbalance.

Similar drugs made me dozy and fat. Dunno who would enjoy abusing that!