I have been Diagnosed with GAD dose anyone take Pregablin for this.

[hjc123]

Hi,

I have been diagnosed with GAD (Generlized Anxiety Disorder) now and am on pregablin and Venlafaxine. At first the Doctor thought it was Social Anxiety Disorder. I feel horrid and am on the sick from work now. Feeling quite unwell. Has anyone taken Pregablin as this is usually used for epilepsy. While the Pregablin appears to be working, although makes me feel sleepy. It only seems to help for a short period of time. I know Pregablin can also be used to tread depression. If anyone has taken Pregablin for GAD does the effect of feeling sleepy eventualy wear off? Or does this carry on. Also has it helped you with the happy feelings in the head? Because it has worn off with me? Please help!

Helenx

[Hidden]

I take it for muscle pain as a result of my anxiety. The sleepiness does wear off, although I have to be careful not to go past my allotted time by too much when I supposed to take it otherwise I can start into withdrawal. My memory isn't quite as sharp/fast but then I'm taking something else with it.

[hjc123 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for replying to my blog. You must be having quite horrid muscle pain due to your anxiety. I don't mean to get personnal but for years i have sufferd with alsorts with the wrong diagnoses for many years with GP's who only put it down to depression/anxiety (put you on the wrong medication) until i had , had enough and insisted to go and see a phyciatrist. Because all i felt like doing was taking an overdose and putting myself into the sleep with it all, and also doing the job i do. I was told the waiting list would be very long but i didn't care as i wanted the correct diagnosis. Any way after about 4 weeks i got a telephone call. And it was the hospital for an appointment. Went to see them and do you know what. It's the best thing i have ever done. I now have the correct diagnoses with the correct medication. And i am feeling happy right now. Please tell me that you are not taking Diazepam ontop of Pregablin. Any way i know it's none of my business but i do 24 hour respit care and i have a very caring nature And medicate people on a regular basis. I am worried about the memory thing not being as sharp. Will be seeing the Phyciatrist again tomorrow which i will discuss. Thank you for your support on this.

hxx

[Hidden in reply to hjc123]

Hey, no... It's amitriptyline as I couldn't sleep either... In the past they've had me on citalopram (side effects were bad at the start but evened out after about 5 weeks) and then paroxetine (which messed with my head) but they switched me to Pregab. and ami. to treat the physical symptoms whilst I get help from a psychotherapist. I see her once a week and have for a year now.

It's the sixth time I've suffered from anxiety and depression so I knew what was wrong I just couldn't dig myself out of the hole. I have a very understanding doctor, actually, I've had several which having read a few of the posts here I think I've been incredibly lucky.

I do know that this combo is working for me... It might not work for everyone.

I've been on the Pregab. for coming up on three years but I still get side effects if I miss a dose although they only last a short while as long as I take my missed dose. The rest of the time I'm much more relaxed than I was... I was at a point where I was physically shaking the whole day due to the exertion on my muscles. Now I just have the aches now and then which I can deal with.

[jrcornwall]

I take pregabalin and a venlafaxine combination. The sleepiness does wear off as do all the other side effects such as slurred speech and drunken gait. As to the euphoria (the happiness in the head you mentioned), yes that does wear off but as a treatment for GAD it is the best thing I have ever had and believe you me I've had loads of things over the past thirty years.

[hjc123 in reply to jrcornwall]

Thank you for your help. It's nice to know that someone else has the same sort of thing. As i do 24 hour respite care and will be on this drug for the rest of my life do you feel as if your memory is not as shart. It's just that as i deal in medication. Also medicating people i feel it's about getting the mix right maybe not so much pregabin in the mornign. I am on 75mg Venlafxine and 150mg of Prgablin in the morning and the same in the evening. I know what you mean. I have been prescribed may different meds in the past and have been misdiagnosed as just depression. When finally i asked to see a Phyciatrist who eventually put this down to GAD and put me on pregablin. The world does not seem to be such an anxious place. I have only been on prebalin for about 9 days and beleive me although i have no happy feelings in my head. I do have a smile on my face for the first time in years. With regards to my sleepyness feeling i am not going to go on shift until it wears off. How long does this take. Whilst i have medicated may people with prgablin for Epilepsey. Its weird being the patient.

Hx

[hjc123 in reply to hjc123]

Actually i forgot to mention that i am seeing my phyciatrist tomorrow. But i think its interesting to talk to other people who have gone through similar situations. Thanks for your support. hx

[Hidden in reply to hjc123]

I think it took between 2 and 3 weeks for me to "get over" the initial start of taking the Pregab. It was one of the reasons the doc suggest it, was because side effects were minimal and it was a fast uptake. I went through hell with the others (not the amitriptyline... That one did what it said on the tin - mad me drowsy at bedtime which was what I needed) so I needed something that would not make my anxiety worse.

[jrcornwall in reply to hjc123]

Pregablin is given for three reasons, primarily: neuropathic pain relief in diabetes, secondary eplilectic care and for GAD. For the latter, GAD, it is up to the psychiatrist or the primary GP because it is relatively expensive on the NHS. Yet given that with venalfaxine (you are on a very low dose compared with me) relief ought to come within weeks.Respite care adds a different dimention. You are doubly assailed. Given your prescription of pregabalin and venlafaxine the initial rush of well-beingness, euphoria, choose your own title, will lessen leading to that indefatigable flat mood but then to quote that horrible adage 'life is what you make it'. You ought never need to ask to see a psychiatrist; your GP should do that for you. Happy feelings in your head (mind?) come only with an exercise of will. Yet having said that I do know that feeling 'happy' brings with it tremendous amounts of guilt. I ought not to feel happy and when I do there is somthing wrong.Let your GP or psychiatrsit increase the dosage of your pregabalin. Murder happens, and usually within your own mind.

John

[hjc123 in reply to jrcornwall]

Hi John,

I have decided not to increase the dosage as i am feeling as if i've got virtio (oh god). Thank you for your words of wisdom. I suppose life is what you make of it. I am not going back to work until the 12/8/13 as i am still getting used to the Pregablin. You can only go upto 600mg of Pregablin. I am on 300mg a day. So I've just started taking it and I'm already 1/2 way to the max dose?? I am going away next week to the borders of scotland with husband and Lab. I think this will do me some good. Yes i will go swimming in my wet suite as it's supposed to be a heat wave. I think being in my house and not working is making me go crazy.

Many thanks

Helen

[Barley]

Hjc123, I am really sorry I can't help you with advice on Pregablin as I am in a state of indecision as to whether to take it myself. I have been prescribed it for GAD but can't quite get my head around some of the awful side effects and withdrawal symptoms I have read about. I have fnd which brings weak legs and lack of mobility. I am worried pregablin will make me even more unsteady, and drowsy. Sorry to answer your question with a question but just wondered if you could shed any light please?