6 weeks Pregablin

Thanks to everyone who shared experiences with Pregablin.

Since then my dose increased to 300mg per day.

I’ve gained 4kg in fat. I had got to a place I was happy with my weight( in addition to other side effects)

The main benefit I have experienced was relief from my anxiety. I must admit I settled at this dose because my pain was manageable for the first two weeks so I went with it.

Now I feel like I’m back where I was. I’d talk to the doctor but I don’t really believe in taking oral medication for myself. I’d prefer they didn’t increase my dose during lockdown cus I have nothing to do but eat at the moment, I’m quite petite and have managed to get it under control with exercise, if I gain much I will struggle to do so if I still have symptoms.

But Even this medication is a temporary fix until I can get a lidocaine infusion.

What do I do now?

Any thoughts?

[Painny]

Trexy

I do not touch those meds despite severe pain, the side effects are worse than the illness I take the medication for, this is a no go area for me as my spine cannot cope with increase in weight.

I use cbd oil plus I have an electric massager that I use to relax and decontract muscles, they relieve chronic pain short term but use it next day if I am not lazy

All the best

[Hidden in reply to Painny]

Thanks, Im very much the same and already own the items you described.

If you can’t tell I totally agree witg your views also deeply believing that taking daily medication is bad for mental health and there for general health.

Much like yourself my spine (and my hip) can’t take weight gain. And in the time Ive been taking Pregablin I’ve gained half the weight I lost in the pass year to improve my mobility and boost my confidence (both in terms of my condition and physical aesthetic’s).

Fibro has made it hard to control my weight since I was 14, 20 now and I’m trying to keep a healthy body to reduce it’s effects as I get older.

[Hidden]

Thanks good to know, I will be checking up on the stats, it’s unfortunate because the anti anxiety effects have finally allowed me to clear my brain fog

[Hidden]

So I looked at some research.

In most studies the dose is built up over 8-12 weeks and at my dose less than 50% experience pain relief and around 30% of those on placebos experience the same relief. And most candidates experienced improved quality of life.

This was particularly helpful:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

I am at a lower dose for this but even double the dose has similar effects in terms of pain.

I will probably call pain management to see when they might reopen for outpatient procedures, do some research into lidocaine infusions and then call the gp to discuss how to proceed.

[Hidden]

Thank you for reminding to look at the stats

[footgo]

Good day Trey

Well done, l was on Prednisolone for twelve years and eventually I decided I must stop taking this medication because of the terrible side effects. Bone deterioration, weight gain etc.

I put on so much stomach fat, a round ‘Chubby’ fat face and a horrific roll of fat across my shoulders on the back, all well known side effects of taking Prednisolone.

I stopped this medication in December 2019, l have lost general weight, the face fat and shoulder fat have gone like magic, BUT the stomach fat I just cannot shift.

I am very sure that weight gain is a terrible side effect of so many medications.

Good luck with all your health problems.

[Hidden in reply to footgo]

Stomach fat is always hard to loose and takes time, caused by fat around the organs you can’t target it specifically.

Unfortunately that’s where I have gained all my weight since taking this medication.

Good luck to you too. x

[Tiny58]

I am also on pregab and have also gained weight I'm thinking they are the cause I don't eat alot but my weight just still go's up

[Hidden in reply to Tiny58]

I’ve experienced the same, reduced and improved my diet and doing more intense exercise.

But when you’re in pain that can’t happen all the time.

Still taking Pregablin I can’t get below 60kg, previously being 56kg and having worked down from 65 since last year.

While Pregablin has improved my quality of life in terms of anxiety, the devastation of losing all that work in a short space of time is often worse.

[Entela15]

I would stick with Pregabalin for now.

I had Lidocaine infusions twice and they didn't do a thing. On the other hand pregabaline only works for so long. It was wonderful for a while and than back to square one. That's the problem with all meds. They stop working and you need new ones.

[Hidden in reply to Entela15]

Thanks this is the first medication I’ve had for fibro (other than Amitriptyline which I reacted badly to). I really don’t like taking regular oral medication, so the goal really is to not do that anyway.

[Aanneml]

Hi, I've just had to increase Pregablin to 600mg a day since I've woken up in early hours ravenous. I started with weight watchers 7wks ago & lost 5lb so far can't see me loosing any more with these midnight munches going on! I've got steroids to look forward to as well. I wouldn't normally go for this level of medication but my employers have their thumb on me & don't want to lose my job. I think I need to come to terms that I cannot manage my job at the level it's expected of me.

[Hidden in reply to Aanneml]

So sorry to hear that. I hope you find the time to look at your rights, and maybe go to a union. Your boss cannot fire you or push you out for medical disability. However I do understand trying to make the job manageable for yourself so you can get on with your every day life. Best of luck, especially with the steroids.

[Aanneml]

Yes I am medically disabled, I hadn't thought of me being off work for that, which I am. Thank you