I'm asking my GP to take me off Pregabalin as A) it doesn't really work even though it has been increased again and B) horrendous weight gain. 2 stone weight gain.
I'm asking to be put on tramadol instead but I'm not sure if he will do this as I have bad liver damage.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks Golly
Hi
I was on pregabalin and it stopped working for me. Unfortunately a lot of meds do this over time as your body just gets used to it.
I have been on tramadol for 10 years with no real side effects apart from tiredness if I take. More than 4 in anyone day. It is the only medication that has continued to work for me. It doesn’t take the pain away completely but it dulls it down like most meds.
Good luck, hope you get it sorted.
Neil
Hi I was on Gabapentin, them maximum dose of Pregabalin for about 12 months the weight gain was horrendous, so I weaned off them via my GP n he put me on Duloxetine. As soon as i came of Pregabalin my weight went, Duloxetine is great for me n no weight gain.I Also suffer with Chronic back pain n take 8 tramadol a day
personally I would never take tramadol again.The side effects were so awful and extremely addictive(even after 4 weeks)
I switched to amitriptyline and much happier with that alongside ensuring that I have cut out absolutely everything with artificial sweeteners in.
I take tramadol and I make sure to have left over, because if I have a really bad episode, that's the only thing that works. Otherwise I try not to take it. It does leave me groggy the next day and sometimes makes the pain worse. It also builds up in your system, thus taking 7 pills in a day. By the time I got up to 2, I realized I needed to back off. I noticed that magnesium really takes the pain away and I don't have grogginess the day after, well, maybe sometimes, but it is great when you need to save tramadol. Turmeric is very helpful. Ice packs are really effective and then sometimes heating pads. Some don't think about ice packs, but that is really helpful, actually.
I'm glad I've found your posts about pregablin. I'm currently getting whined of pregablin, from the highest dose as I don't think it's working anymore. The GPs haven't even offered me an alternative, as I'm sure they think I take painkillers for a laugh!! I wasn't even aware that pregablin puts weight on you... Please let me know more alternatives for pregablin? Thanks.
Hi I tried tramadol but was sick with them . Everyone is different. For my fibromyalgia I take duloxtine 60 mg. And for my inflammatory arthritis I take sulfasalazine . I also take naproxen along side . The only one that did help with my pain was cocodamal 8mg . But I would have a chat with the doctor as there are lots of diffrent meds that can help. I hope you get something sorted.
They don't really even prescribe that where I'm from, and definitely not long term. Sorry I can't offer any help, except to day I'm pretty sure you all across the ocean have access to a lot more help 🙃 not that it helps necessarily, but sometimes I wish my doctor's would try something and stop saying no to everything.. haha🙈
Ps wishing you all the best! I hope you find something that works for and helps you😊💖💖
Thank you.
Hi Golly,
I have been on tramadol for 10+ or maybe even 20yrs I don’t remember. It never bothered my liver. Celebrex effected my kidneys so had to stop that. Now when they took my gallbladder out in 94 the anesthesia sent all my liver functions through the roof but came back down and never had any problems since. Sorry I couldn’t be of better help. I’m on the gabapentin too for neuropathy (due to thyroid disease which turned into cancer in 05 cancer free ever since thyroidectomy). I’m on several medications which has a side effect.of weight gain. I would talk to your doctor about the tramadol it works most of the time for my pain.
Tramadol is the only painkiller that works for me, luckily I have not had any side effects - quite the opposite. However I have avoided alcohol (sadly) and paid careful attention to diet because I was also worried about my liver. Two years on and my liver is fine - hope this helps, though of course we are all different.
I take tramadol as a last resort when I am in so much pain, it makes me feel very sick and nauseous and sleepy.
I once took it for 10 days in a row because I had surgery, on day 11 when I didn’t take any I felt horrendous, like an addict going cold turkey.
If you do take tramadol, maybe you need something to help your stomach lining, my GP gives me omerprazole to help with this.
X
Please ask your doctor for anti nausea tablets [ that's what they are therefore!!] Nausea decreases in time too so take for a few days and I'm sure you will get used to tramadol without the nausea..
Hi. I had a chat with the Pain Clinic yesterday. Finally out of the consultants I have to deal with, Rheumatologist being the worst one, she is so useless it is unbelievable. The Pain Clinic doctor, he actually takes time and listens. I nearly fainted with shock! Tramadol now has new guidelines so it might be dulexotine. I'm not sure yet or even amytriptaline. The one thing I am sure of, now weighing over 10 stone. I have never in my life weighed more than 8 st 3 or 4. Certain that I do not want this weight gain anymore. I have had enough. So I am going to try something else. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. It really is appreciated. How are you getting on with things. I'm finding it a minefield really. It is so nice that there are so many caring people on this website that help, care and share their thoughts and experiences of what they have endured. I think the word "endure" is a pretty apt one. Maybe "suffer" might be more appropriate. Thanks and best wishes Golly x
Tramadol doesn't usually cause weight gain though... it usually curbs appetite I think it's more than likely fibromyalgia itself [ less activity] and age .?.. I too am up 10kg in last 5yrs but had fibromyalgia over 15yrs ... on Tramadol, pregabalin and Duloxetine!!!! Mines severe now 
Hi, I've been using a prolonged release Tramadol for years, find it works really well for me, one tablet every 24 hours alongside a few other meds, however I've been unable to get it since before Xmas last year! I'm so annoyed. Seems to be a manufacturing issue but I've got a sinking feeling it's been discontinued! I'm back to 1 tab every 12 hours 🫤 Absolutely hated Gabapentin and Pregabalin when I tried them at the very beginning, really not worth the side effects for me. Hope it works for you!😊
Hi, no it's not discontinued I'm on the sustained release tramadol and there are several brands, not just Zamadol°R , IF your foctor has written the brand name , the pharmacy has to supply that brand but if he writes Tramadol they can supply any brand .. they are all the same drug , hope you get them again soon !!
Hi. Thanks. I will certainly try. Best wishes Golly
Aw thanks, good to know. My GP can't seem to find an alternative 24 hour release Tramadol so I'm using the 12 hr Zamadol right now. Will have another chat with them soon x
Hi GollyI hope you're lucky and your dr gives you tramadol but as the NICE guidelines have changed on them, the likelihood is probably slim. There are other pain meds they can offer but they'll pribably want to try you on amitriptyline or something like that. I found amitriptyline no good but was given Nortriptyline instead. Have had no issues with it. No weight gain, helps my pain and neuropathy, reduced my migraines and lifted my mood. Duloxetine is another they might offer, its similar to Nortriptyline in what it does (though both aren't pain killers). Tramadol is opoid based so classed as highly addictive, hence the change in the guidelines so if you do get prescribed them, it may only be for a short while then stopped. It may be worth discussing other options rather than just heading for pain killers with your dr.
Anyway, I wish you luck and hope you manage to find something that can help you and give you some relief 😊
Thanks so much for caring and helping. It's so nice to have such kind, caring and lovely people such as you taking the time to help me. Best wishes and a happy day hopefully. X
Hi Golly , I read your post and thought oh no this is the reason I have gained so much weight so from last night I have started reducing mine too , it never even crossed my mind it could be the Pregablin so thanks 😊
You too. Yep I have piled on the pounds here and I've had enough now. Since my sons birthday on 30th of August when I weighed 8 stone 10, I now weigh 10stone 1. That is 6 months ago. About the time I was started on 25mg of pregabalin. I'm now on 150mg of pregabalin twice a day and I have had enough. I'm only 5ft 2 and now border on the obese scale. Let me know how you get on. I have never weighed above 8st 5 at my heaviest. Good luck and hope you are doing OK and are as pain free as possible. Best wishes Golly x
I am much heavier than that but I was put straight on to 2x75mg a day I take them at night as I feel they help me sleep ,but I want to lose the weight I have put on I hope I can get off it , I will keep you posted take care x
Don't reduce meds too quickly... I find a combination of Tramadol, pregabalin and Duloxetine work better than any single drug.. I couldn't do without the Duloxetine as I suffer terrible low moods with the chronic fatigue & pain
No I won’t, I take tramadol also and Venlafaxine, I am going to do one pill one night then 2 other night for a few weeks
I am on oxycontin, also muscle relaxants. My biggest problem at the moment is sleep as they have taken me off sleeping tablets, put me on tramadol to help. Took first dose last night, made me sleepy but only got 4 hours sleep. Made me feel very sick, but will keep with it. Has anyone found a way to get over the nausea. Hope you find something that helps soon.
Hi. Thanks for your reply. Really appreciated. I think maybe omeprazole or lanzaprazole is a possibility to take before the tramadol as it coats the lining of the stomach. Your GP will know if this will work. It really is so kind of you to take the time to reply. Have a lovely day. Thanks Golly
Hello.Firstly I thought it might be helpful to show my weekly prescription printout that comes with my dosette tray... I have fibromyalgia, rhumitoid, chronic depression and PTSD. Ive been on this concoction for the last 7 years. .Just over 2 years ago, I booked in woth my GP and asked for their help because in addition to that list of medication, I was taking 3000mg per day of Gabapentin and I felt that they were really affecting my Mental Health terribly and totally changed me as a person... for example I'd forget everything... I still have no memory of various events while I was on them. I was impatient and very paranoid. I would drink (I was never a non drinker, but only had drinks a few times a year while at a wedding or something....but somehow I didn't think twice about drinking a litre of gin. I was ordering prescriptions early all the time so I could take extra sleeping tablets etc when I needed too.... I did everything that I wouldn't do. So I did a controlled withdrawal over 10 weeks.... and never looked back. I feel so much more pain without them but its worth it to get myself back. I take 8 tramadol per day and they are good pain relief certainly take the edge off. I dont feel any negative side effects...they are addictive... but I've said about zopiclone and tramadol to my gp, I am not bothered so long as they do what I need them for, I don't care if I need them long term. Livers do repair, I'm sure your gp wouldn't prescribe them if they would cause further damage? I now get weekly prescription too... so I feel a lot more in control now! Hope you find the right way forward! X
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