Pregabalin

[Davewm]

I had a Laminectomy due to Severe Spinal Stenosis which initially provided 4 months of relief. It then failed and deteriorated again.

After that I’ve also had open heart surgery with a Triple Bypass and Mitral Valve Repair. After collapsing last year I’ve now been diagnosed with Heart Failure.

Unfortunately as a result of increased back pain I’ve now had another MRI scan and the result is that the Spinal Stenosis is now worse than it was at the start!

The Pain Management Consultant has prescribed Pregabalin as my heart problems prevent the use of a wide range of painkillers.

I’m particularly interested if anyone has had any side effects from Pregabalin. I’m regularly falling asleep and this morning I experienced a nosebleed. I’ve never before had a nosebleed!

I’ve not had much pain relief since taking them and so I’m thinking of stopping them. (I’ve also been notified by my GP about other side effects.)

As anyone had experience of coming off these drugs?

Kind regards

David

[Baileydog]

Hi,I have been on pregab for 4 years due to spinal nerve problems. I too had the side effects your talking about and a few more. I don’t know how long you have been taking tgem and at what dose but you overcome the side effects in time and when you do they can be a lifesaver. But!! They must be given respect when you come off them. Wean yourself off . I hope this helps. Your doctor will give you smaller dosage to help you come off them. If youv only been on them a short time you should still taper to omit side effects.

Good luck.

[Davewm in reply to Baileydog]

Thank you so much for your very helpful and insightful comments.

Kind regards

David

[madtabby]

I started Gabapentin around 6 weeks ago , i had to start on a very low dose but due to being in severe pain tried to rush the uplift in dose & had terrible nausea & Runs i was also very sedated .Doc told me off n i slowly increased the dose to 900 mg per day over a 6 week period.

Its hard to advise as you dont state the dose or how long you have been on it .

Its a heavy duty drug but tailored to the individual can work well , my pain hasn’t totally gone but has reduced .

[Davewm in reply to madtabby]

Thank you so much for your very helpful and insightful comments.

Kind regards

David

[Kodikid10 in reply to madtabby]

What do you mean by "heavy duty drug"?

[madtabby in reply to Kodikid10]

Heavy duty as in very strong & comes with lots of side effects as well as being a very effective drug. In England its a Controlled Drug so comes with strict monitoring.You also cant just stop it you need to be weened off it as the body can become addicted.

Hope that clarifies it for you hun

[Kodikid10 in reply to madtabby]

Gabapentin? Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant, sometimes prescribed for depression, and said to have some effect (30%) for neuropathy. Most people think it is horse trash. If Gabapentin is considered "heavy duty" then what are opioids considered as?

[madtabby in reply to Kodikid10]

Im aware of all its uses i work with the NHS and have lots of patients on it.What every your opinions on it , it is heavy duty on the body & has a high street value for drug uses . Both Gabapentin & opioids are Controlled drugs

[waylay in reply to madtabby]

FYI: Addiction isn't the right word - it is physical dependency.

[madtabby in reply to waylay]

True the body itself does or can become dependent but also for some there is a addiction both emotionally & mentally.

[Asti-Spumanti]

Morning - I suffer with spinal problems like you but fortunately I do not have cardiac problems. After my first spinal operation (same as yours) I ended up with nerve damage above knees and was out on pregabalin - this did not suit me had several side-effects and was changed to gabapentin and this suited me better. And yes as one reply to you - coming off should be a gradual process as it was when you first started pregabalin. I have been on a lot of different pain meds that do not really take the pain away. Coming off meds really depends on your personality - addictive or not. I have always found it easy - have been on morphine patches, diclofenac, longtec, Dihydrocodeine and now doc is unsure where to go next! Have appt with pain management pharmacist to see if she can sort me. I really hope that you can get your pain under control. My spinal consultant said I am one of the unlucky ones who has a narrow spinal canal, 3 back operations that have not had any long term effect. I really hope that you can find something to help with the pain. I would also appreciate any advice.

[Davewm in reply to Asti-Spumanti]

Good morning

Thank you so much for your kind and considered reply.

I think my Cardiac problems are the main cause of the difficulty in prescribing suitable pain relief.

I’ve already had two lots of facet joint injections and am currently waiting for a third set but neither have been successful so far but hopefully these next one’s may help.

I hope you get some advice or further help and wish you all the best for the future.

Kind regards

David

[Asti-Spumanti in reply to Davewm]

Bless you david - we can live in hope :)I am waiting on another MRI scan to see which bit is the worst - cervical stenosis or lumbar.

I hope your next set of facet joint injections work better for you

Take care

Asti

[Kodikid10 in reply to Asti-Spumanti]

Have you been on hydrocodone or oxycodone?

[madtabby in reply to Kodikid10]

That may not be indicated due to this person’s cardiac issues . Both are morphine based & suppress the cardiac and respiratory systems

[Asti-Spumanti in reply to Kodikid10]

Hiya KodikidNo haven't tried those - but am on Dihydrocodeine - I had loads of trouble with pain meds reacting with an antidepressant I was on so got off that, I was on diclofenac but was found to have inflammation with that so could not take that any more. I could mention to my doc about oxycodone it might work better that the Dihydrocodeine which I have been on for a number of years, so thank you very much for your reply. Are you a back pain sufferer?

Asti

[Asti-Spumanti in reply to Kodikid10]

Hi Kodikid Had appointment with pharmacist from pain clinic and she said to try Tapentadol which gps cannot prescribe. I am at the stage of lowering amitriptyline, then titrate Tapentadol and after week one to drop Dihydrocodeine. Will give it a bash - 🤞this might work. Got to watch out for side effects tho.

Thank you for your suggestion previously.

Asti x

[Sunlover56]

Hi, I too pregabalin for failed back surgery and it helped at quite a high dose but the side effects were truly awful. My whole personality changed, I became very argumentative, anxious, suspicious of everyone else’s motives to the point that I was paranoid and the worse thing was that I literally passed out at the wheel of my car. As I used to be an Estate Agent for my sins, a car was vital but so is being alive. Luckily I didn’t kill anyone else and my GP signed me off work whilst I gradually came off them. It was only afterwards that I realised how my personality had changed. Everyone I know who has taken them has suffered with terrible side effects and have come off them. I too suffered from nosebleeds. At the end of the day, they’re designed to treat epilepsy, pain relief is just a handy side effect. I hope you manage to find a form of pain relief that suits you and hope my reply has helped.

[lgd333]

Hi David I've been on Pregabalin since April for epilepsy. I'm currently on 100mg twice daily. The side effects I have noticed are tiredness, irritability, occasional hallucinations, and do get blood noses regularly, which is from Aspirin or both.

[Jaydi]

I used to take pregabalin which I found effective for neuropathic pain. Unfortunately they made my speech slur and I realised they were affecting driving in a bad way. I stopped them gradually and now use Duloxetine.

[Paul_Wakefield]

I’ve been on Pregabalin for 8 years. I’m currently on 150mg at 8 am and 300mg at 8pm. Nerve damage from three fractured cervical vertebrae. C2, C5 and C6. At first it used to knock me out but eventually you get used to it. The one thing you might want to be careful about is weight gain because it stimulates appetite. I have to apply a bit of self control but it’s worth it for the pain relief.

I’m also getting cervical epidurals and lidocaine intravenous infusions every 3 months. I don’t know if you’ve discussed either. They both help me a lot.

Good luck. Stick with the pregabalin and the side effects disappear

[KripTowers]

I had a herniated disc at L4-S5 which was lodged in my nerve root for quite some time.

I'm now on extremely high dose of medication

80mg of Longtec(oxycontin) every 12 hours

10mg diazepam twice a day

600mg gabapentin three times per day

100mg diclofenac pop ups for Emergency relief

20ml / 1ml/1mg of oxynorm liquid 4 x per day

I've been on these for so long they're becoming less & less effective

[Eleni259]

I am reluctant to write this because I don't want to trivialise your situationMy 10 year old greyhound has arthritis in his hips. Since being on Gabapentin he has really cheered up and sometimes bounces around and runs short distances.

I wish you well and for improvements in your complicated health problems

[Geripop in reply to Eleni259]

Hi Eleni259, my 13yo GSD is on Gabapentin too for arthritis as she struggles with her hips. I think for the larger dogs like Greyhounds, German Shepards, St Bernard's etc it's always the hips that feel the wear and get more than likely arthritic. I'd not say I've seen a personality change in Koda, but she's been on Gabapentin for over 2yrs now and it's definitely helped her movement and has given us more time together. Until a few months ago she still did short runs if she spied something like a sheep in her garden, and even now will do a wee trot to escape me catching her - I'm on crutches so not difficult!

I've been on Gabapentin for nerve pain for several years, I definitely know if I've not taken it so no longer complacent about the help it does provide even if not fully pain-free. Then again I get very little side-effects from meds and can withdraw without issue.