Pregabalin addiction

[HildegardeCrowe]

I’m on prescribed Pregabalin, the highest dose of 600mg, for a severe anxiety disorder. Have been on and off for about 5 years. It helps with the anxiety but am now addicted and it causes intense alcohol cravings and am now drinking 2 bottles of wine daily. GPs don’t seem to have any idea of how addictive this drug is and the potential for abuse. Am desperate to come off it but know it’ll be hell. I think I’d rather live with the anxiety (have had loads of talking therapy which has achieved nothing) than be a spaced-out alcoholic. I’ve always had issues with alcohol (am now 64) but never this bad. Does anyone have any experience/advice please?

The only link to pregabalin and alcohol that I was aware of was that it is actively used to help reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms. And that it can be dangerous to drink alcohol while on the medication.

I think they are probably separate issues at play at the same time. I know it can be hard to come off pregabalin/gabapentin.

I'd talk to your gp. Either asking for an alternative anxiety medication. Or about your alcohol dependence which they should take seriously.

Thank you but the link between my alcohol addiction and Pregabalin is undeniable. When I’m not on Pregabalin I drink in moderation but I guess everyone’s different. Anti-depressants have the same effect and induce alcohol cravings in me and I believe this is now a documented side-effect. I’m speaking to my GP and have accessed alcohol support services so have at least reached out.

Dealing with the alcohol first seems like an obvious course. When and why did you start drinking and in what situations? Have you managed periods without?

Do you still feel the sedative effect of pregabalin?

Yes but not as much as I did. In the past it’s just stopped having much of an effect - is that what happens?

Started drinking in my teens much as my peers. Got really bad in my 40s around the break-up of my marriage. Have managed to moderate for fairly long periods and was AF once for about 6 months. I think living on my own has made it worse and the drugs I take with it.

Yeah youl stop feeling it so obviously although itl probably still send you to sleep. I just wondered as the effects are similar if you are drinking too increase the sedative effect you're losing through tolerance. Anyway ime alcohol soothes anxiety short term but it comes back 10 fold in the morning. Are you a functioning alcoholic? That 6 months sobe is so significant, you can hold it in your mind as a reminder that you can be a sober person. Im sure you realise its all rooted in anxiety. You need to replace alcohol and pills (with docs advice) with another anxiety crusher. I use camping and comedy personally.

•to increase

You sound lovely @BrozTito and I know I need to find anxiety crushers too! And yes am functioning unless I get home dead drunk and fall down and can’t get up ( this was last week and DD not home fortunately). It’s all so undignified.....

Do you have certain triggers like times of day, home from work etc?

Oh yes, thanks for asking. Will let you know later. Are you fully recovered from your addiction? Sounds like you are and that gives me such hope x

Yes any old excuse to drink. Am
fucked basically. Please tell me how you
Kicked H,

I’m only a low dose (50mg) but I’ve been teetotal for 5 years. Which is about as long as I have been taking these tablets so it now makes sense why I have no interest in alcohol

Didn’t know it could go to the other way though.

Mine is for pain

Your kindness and understanding means a lot @BrozTito. Flailing about ATM and listening to dead people (Chris Cornell what a glorious man). Want to be normal but then again have no idea of what that means

I stopped heroin through methadone and community rehab. Its a similar addiction to pregabalin and alcohol in that it destroys anxiety etc. I quit heroin more easily than my alcoholism, mainly because the drinking culture is always there. Heroin you can escape certain people to an extent but not drinking. I saw Chris Cornell years ago whilst he was in audioslave. He was brilliant then and just got sober for the first time. I was alwas desperate to see him in soundgarden.

I had a feeling you knew who he was...so very very sad that he couldn’t find a way to carry on. I blacked out again today and let my loved ones down. I’ll see what the GP says tomorrow. So glad you’re better, I want to be too xx

I was on Pregablin (300mg) for about 8 years, didn't have any issues on alcohol except one night when I over did it and had a funny reaction. A&E were furious I was drinking on it, but I'd never been warned not too! I carried on having the odd glass of wine for years after and was absolutely fine so just a freak event.
I came off it in the end because I was sick of the side effects (slurred speech, vertigo, shakes) and just went cold turkey. I was dreading it becais ei found getting on it really hard (several weeks of nausea and dizziness etc) but barely even noticed when I stopped taking it!

That’s good to hear @Keladrythesaviour. What were you on it for? Did it help??

@HildegardeCrowe for neural pain. It made a huge difference where nothing else had touched it. Coming off it my pain levels aren't anywhere near what I thought they'd be (but not as good as they were on it) so I think it has done me long term good. It has however left me with a permanent slur. Not enough for most people to pick up on it in general conversation, but I'm aware of it. I was warned it wasnt an unusual side effect but I'd hoped it would go when I stopped taking it.

I was on gabapentin which I think is a sister drug to pregabalin. I came off of it incredibly slowly, I was on 300mg and it took me quite a few months. You could taper your dose over a year if you need to. Reduce by 50mg every few weeks/months or even less if need be.

Yes a slow taper might be a good idea. Waiting to see GP now.

Do your family know about the extent of your drinking/pregabalin use? Do you want to be free of pregabalin entirely? The scariest part of all is finding out you have to quit drink entirely, no cutting down or compromise there if you're going to stop properly. Probably obvious stuff but try exercise, camping, canoeing, crafting stuff (i make posh Scandinavian knives and get a few extra quid for it), writing and other creative stuff to fight anxiety. Basically to feel alive in positive ways. Explore rehab in the community options, we have a local organisation called 'Renew'. They do groups and also 121 counselling.

How was your appointment?

Thank you @BrozTito - family know I have a drink problem but don’t tend to believe me when I say Pregabalin is contributing to my addiction issues because of my history. At least I have an appointment coming up soon with the local alcohol support services and apparently it’s with someone who knows about Pregabalin addiction.

@MinnieJackson, my GP appointment was brilliant, she is the kindest most knowledgeable doctor and she’s my rock. I’d be lost without her. She’s happy to see me in a monthly basis so I can discuss anything that’s bothering me. In the meantime I’m on my second bottle but for the rest of the week have to be sober because DD is back tomorrow from hols and then back to uni on Sunday to start PGCE. If she knew I was drinking like I am, she’d be devastated. It’s my frigging birthday on Wednesday and I mustn’t drink. GP has prescribed both Acamprosate and Antabuse so really just want to keep it together till she goes back on Sunday. Then I can fall apart again.....

I kicked pregabalin around 8 months ago, it was super hard! Had to take it incredibly slowly and write off a lot of days in the middle.

Once I had got it all out of my system I felt so much more awake and myself.

I'm currently kicking Mirtazapine so going through similar all over again.

I have a very stubborn nature which means I'm good at sticking to things, I don't for a second judge anyone that struggles immensely because it's a physical and mental withdrawal process.