Pregabalin & Pregnancy

[Gingernut1989]

I am absolutely petrified and no idea where to post this. I have just found out today that I am around 9 weeks pregnant. I have been taking pregabalin throughout. Had I known I was pregnant before this point I obviously would have stopped. Please can someone tell me I have not done any harm ? I feel sick reading about birth defects.

I would not take pregabalin whilst pregnant. First article that comes up online says to not take it because it can have a negative affect on your unborn baby. Many other articles say the same!

Did your GP not inform you of this/of the risks?

Do they know you are pregnant?

.

You need to speak to your doctor. Some people do stay on it if they need to but if there's an alternative they may take you off it. You need medical advice. Try not to worry

I know not to. I took it before I knew that is why I'm asking have I done damage.

Hi, I was on pregabalin until my third trimester (managed under a perinatal team). They said it was fine and risks were low. I did stop taking it when I was approx 6 months I think. My child is absolutely fine.

Thank you . I was told to wean off and not go cold turkey over the next 3 weeks . I'm just so worried. I have an early scan on Monday when I will be almost 10 weeks. I've not taken folic acid or vitamin D either as I did not know until today.

Oh thank you so much a positive story . All I have seen is negative online and I've been crying all afternoon.

@SabreIsMyFave that is not particularly helpful, the OP already stated she knows it was not recommended in pregnancy.

OP go see your GP and try to see the specialist who recommended the pregabalin so you can come up with a treatment plan. Start folic acid immediately if not already taking. Current recommendation is not to take but there are still more healthy babies born to mothers who took pregabalin than the other way. It is also important for your medical condition to be under control - being unwell is also not good for you or baby

Prescribing mum thank you so much for your reply. GP said "i want you off it but I want you off safely" so suggested 3 weeks to come off because withdrawals wont be good . I also need to speak with my neurologist regarding epilepsy meds I'm on and I've been prescribed folic acid high dose. I have an early scan on Monday because of pains I've been having. The pains were what took me to the GP in the first place before I knew pregnancy was the cause. I am just panicking so much.

Your GP is correct, sudden discontinuation can cause more harm than the pregabalin itself. Reduce the dose gradually as they advised and have your epilepsy meds reviewed. If they pregabalin was in part for seizures, then the neurologist will assess risk to decide whether another medicine is needed. Don't panic, many pregnancies are unplanned and all turns out fine despite women being on medication when they conceived. Just take it a day at a time

Good luck for the scan

The pregabalin was for nerve damage. I've already reduced the dose for this first week so by the time the scan comes around I will be reducing again. Hoping there can be an alternative pain management . I don't know how I feel to be honest I don't "feel" pregnant. With all other pregnancies I have been very sick. Hyperemesis sick. This time I've just got ovary pains very sharp and stabbing plus dull pulling in lower abdomen. I can eat absolutely fine whereas before I lost so much weight in the first 4 months. I honestly thought the urine test would rule out pregnancy and I'd be referred to hospital to check out what's wrong with me. I wish I could just fast forward to Monday and be told everything is OK

I feel you, I couldn’t find a single anecdotal positive story online and I remember being really worried. The perinatal team told me the risk was very low and they monitored me. For me it was really hard when I went off the pregabalin, my anxiety was so bad in third trimester. I went straight back on it after birth and felt better.

Bless you @sky1267 I can imagine it's difficult when taking for anxiety. Exactly as you say though ; lots of horror stories and lots of negatives. The GP sent me a link to information about how terrible it is to take pregabalin during pregnancy as though I don't feel awful enough !

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/leaflets-a-z/pregabalin/

Also, don't worry too much about folic acid as pregabalin is not actually known to affect folate levels.

Thanks I have been prescribed high dose folic acid but this may be due to epilepsy medication I'm not sure. I have this really strange feeling it's a false positive anyway it's not sitting well with me.

It is because it's used for epilepsy. Basically, U.K. guidance states that any woman using an anti-epilepsy med needs high dose folic acid because some of them affect folate levels. However, pregabalin is not known to affect folate levels.

Ps your GP was very wrong to give you information like that. Any risk with pregabalin is small.

Sorry the pregablin is for nerve pain. I'm on keppra for epilepsy.

I maybe didn't articulate properly. I was prescribed the high dose folic acid because I am taking medication for epilepsy. The pregabalin is separate to that. Sorry I don't know if I worded that correctly.

What did they propose to manage your pain while you were off it ?

Nothing. She just told me to wean off gradually. I've been so overwhelmed with everything that I haven't known where to start.

I would be going straight back to find out if they expect you to be in pain the entire pregnancy or if they have a plan.

Ahhh- I see now. Keppra is one of the drugs used fairly commonly in pregnancy. Honestly OP, I don't think you should be worried. Have you been offered a review with your neurologist/epilepsy nurse? Lots of women take pregabalin for epilepsy when pregnant so I expect they will be much more reassuring. Your GP has given you pretty bad advice. You could ask them to phone UKTIS who will be able to reassure them that pregabalin can be used in pregnancy when needed
Www.uktis.org

Ps I have understood you are not using the pregabalin for epilepsy

OP How have you gotten on with weaning off? I’ve just found I am pregnant and I’m on 50mg x2 a day for nerve pain, have the docs given you an alternative for pain relief? Im contacting doctors first thing in the morning to discuss, hope you’re doing okay?