Weaning down off Pregabalin

[restlegs1]

A medication error occurred when I went to collect my prescription for Pregabelin, and I am not sure that best way to proceed. For the previous three weeks my GP had me on 25mg daily – the low dose is because she said I am very sensitive to medication. As the 25 mg was not controlling my RLS symptoms, we were supposed to be trialling 50mg – so two 25 mg tablets daily.

The problem occurred when the pharmacist gave me box of 75mg tablets by mistake. I didn’t pick up the error until 2 weeks later –I was wondering why I was off with the fairies. And why I couldn’t shake the mental fog (it controlled my RLS symptoms nicely though). So the last week I have titrated down, taking 125mg per day. My symptoms are back (though some nights are better than others), but are, on the whole, manageable, though I still have the cognitive fog, which can last till 5pm the next day (I take the tablets at 7.30 pm).

My question is now that I have been on 125 mg for a week, do I go down to 100mg or wait another week? I am on no other medications, though I take magnesium, gingko, and fish oil, and the occasional iron tablet.. My ferretin levels are 155 and saturated ferretin 37.

[Annieapple]

I would stay on this present dose for another week to allow the side effects time to settle & then chat to your GP about going up slowly to the dose that controlled your RLS. I am on a low dose of pregablin plus other drugs.. the cognitive fog is not a pleasant thing!!

[restlegs1 in reply to Annieapple]

Hi Annieapple, thanks for your advice. I am actually trying to reduce the dosage of Pregabalin, rather than going up slowly, as I was on a super low dose before. I am trying to find the lowest possible dosage that controls my symptoms to an acceptable level. The only dose of Pregabalin that has properly controlled my symptoms so far is the 'megadose' of 150 mg which I unexpectedly went on to after taking 25 mg for 3 weeks. I take your point about staying on the present dose for another week, though, thank you so much for your response. Yes, cognitive fog is not fun.

[SueJohnson]

Since you were only on the 150 mg a short time and if you didn't have any withdrawal symptoms except an increase in your RLS, yes I would go down to 100 mg now. And again since you were only on 150 mg a short time, you might try going down to 75 mg after 3 or 4 days. If you have any of these symptoms (more than you may have them now) then go more slowly: insomnia, headache, nausea, anxiety, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, pain, excessive sweating, dizziness, confusion, and palpitations.

[restlegs1 in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks very much, Sue. That was what I was wondering, since I was taking the 125 mg dose for such a short time.

[Leeni7]

I had a hard time, very hard time, weaning but it was a 4 year dosage. I think being such a short time try and if you start to feel horribly depressed, I’ll etc. slow down the taper. Sorry that happened to you. Some pharmacists blow my mind!

[restlegs1 in reply to Leeni7]

Thanks for you response, Leeni. Luckily I have not had any serious symptoms so far, except for a spasmodic increase in RLS symptoms