moved from gabapentin to pregablin

What can I expect in regards to side effects from pregablin?

Gabapentin didn't do much for pain so trying something else.

Hope you're all reasonably well today

Xxxx

[Fra22-57]

Well first of all with me the meds kept having to be increased as it wasn’t doing enough.At times I felt like a zombie if you know what I mean…everything in a slow haze.I would have to hold onto husband down street as apart from other disability I just couldn’t see or walk straight.Had to keep resting.My body got accustomed to it but never take any notice from health professionals if they tell you to stop taking it without slowly reducing.I ended up in hospital a month just before a planned colonoscopy as told not to take meds evening before or that morning.I collapsed and ended up canalised scaring my relatives as thought I was dying .It is a strong drug so hopefully you can benefit from it.It is addictive so that’s why that happened to me as I missed 2 doses.I was on 450mg thou at that time.Gp should start you on low dose and build it up.

[Hidden in reply to Fra22-57]

Oh my!

[CM1EDSUK]

Hi - both Gabapentin & Pregabalin are in the same 'family' of Gaba meds. Where they differ is that Pregabalin is more quickly & readily absorbed than Gabapentin so can be more effective. Pregabalin is also prescribed at lower amounts than Gabapentin (for the same amount of pain relief) so potentially with this lower dosage there are fewer side effects.

Personally speaking, I couldn't tolerate Gabapentin, so have been taking Pregabalin for many years with no ill effects. My current GP's opinion was that his patients seemed to find that taking Pregabalin twice a day was more effective than taking the equivalent daily amount 3 times a day.

I have also read that Pregabalin is thought to be more effective for fibromyalgia, so hope you find it better.

[Hidden in reply to CM1EDSUK]

Thanks for your response. Very helpful xxxx

[LordGodAlmighty]

Hi, I was given Pregabalin several months ago and mostly positive results. I certainly don't remember any side effects and it was great, within days. The pain reduced and gave me some relief at night, far more than without.

I now think I have to up the dose as my restless legs are back and causing sleep loss again. I am lucky though, I can have a day where I can either walk our dog or do some quite heavy garden landscaping. (I'm retired now, 65).

[Hidden in reply to LordGodAlmighty]

Thats great xx

[rosewine]

I have been on Pregablin for about 12 years now but at quite a low dose. For the first 2 weeks I felt groggy and soaked out but my body soon got used to it. I just take 50mg in the morning and 75mg at night. This takes the edge off my pain especially helping the burning, zapping type of pain I was getting. Unfortunately, I found d at a higher dose it made me a bit spaced out and as I need to drive decided to not have the dose increased especially as unfortunately I am on quite a fee other drugs for various health conditions. I feel it is certainly worth a try. I can't say what withdrawal is like as I have taken it continuously. Good luck.x

[Cat00]

Weight gain! I went from anorexic to chubby on Gabapentin, but Pregablin made me want to eat my own hand.

I agree with an exceptionally slow reduction though when coming off Gabapentin. Ive come off it twice, 1st time doctor said two weeks and withdrawal was awful 2nd I ignored the doctors and gave myself 6 weeks and I was fine.

[Coogy52]

Hi I gained 1 half stone in 3 months so I came off it, I now take Duloxetine which is much better for me n no weight gain 👍

[Chickenflu]

Hi. I switched from gabapentin to pregabalin a few years ago. I find pregabalin much better for the pain and restless legs. I also take duloxetine which helps. I have had a problem with weight gain, but have been on a keto diet since September which has helped massively with weight loss, but also energy and an improvement in my mental health which is a blessing.

[dorking15]

I switched from Gabapentin to Pregabalin and found it so much better. Sadly it caused hair loss which was more distressing than the pain, especially before sons wedding so reluctantly I had to go back to Gabapentin which I'm not convinced does much. Just darent try to come off it as I get insomniawhen I try to reduce it!!!

[khaleeseebrown1]

Unfortunately none of them did anything for pain for me, I had adverse reactions to both as soon as they started upping the doses . Lots of patients swear by them good luck

[Blearyeyed]

I swapped from Gabapentin to Pregbalin , and would recommend the change , especially if you also suffer from problems like IBS or constipation.

The Pregbalin gives you the same level of pain relief as Gabapentin at lower doses as CM1EDSUK mentioned which helps if you also find you need to stay on lower doses of medications because of intolerances or side effects.

It is also absorbed better than Gabapentin and is much gentler on the stomach , so it is a much better option if you suffer from any stomach problems including IBS , gastric reflux or stomach spasms and bowel difficulty.

For me personally , I got marginally more pain relief than I did with Gabapentin at the dose I can take without getting the side effects I get with most higher doses of neuro medications.

All of the drugs seem to cause a similar level of drowsiness and brain fog but it is easier to cope with , or get beyond the Fatigue , with Pregbalin. It is also easier to concentrate on Pregbalin than Gabapentin which made me very sleepy.

Build your dose up to the recommended dose and make sure you reduce , taper, the Gabapentin down slowly so that you can make a cross over from one to another without bad side effects that may confuse you and make you believe the drug won't work for you. It can take upto 2 months before you feel a significant difference and while you test which dose is better for you.

You can feel worse before you feel the benefits as your body reacts to the change in chemicals for a number of weeks when starting any new drug or changing medications.

I am not on Pregbalin alone , I still take daily paracetamol as well and have other medications for different conditions and Migraine which work in combination to reduce my total pain level.

Pregbalin won't work on its own if you get pain that is not nerve based but is inflammatory pain , like pain in over used joints , migraine or arthritis.

Just like any of the pain medications with Fibro , or any health issue causing Chronic Pain , don't expect miracles.

Most drugs are only their most effective if you also pace yourself each day and also work out your individual programme of Self Care with diet , balanced activity and relaxation, and exercise.

None of the drugs will make you 100% pain free no matter what dose or combination of medications you take.

Your aim is to be Pain Managed not Pain Free with any Chronic Health condition . Success is rated if you can be 85% pain reduced each day whilst having a good quality of life within the limits of activity of living the Fibro Life .

[Henry04]

Pregabalin are much better for pain