change of meds

[Lincolnimp2457]

Hi everybody, I have had to get some different painkillers for my RA as the mtx, ibuprofen, amitriptyline, co-codamol, and hydroxychloraquin were not working so I am weaning off the amitriptyline, and started on Pregbalin. I have just had the best nights sleep for months, as I have never been able to go right through the night without taking more painkillers in the early morning and my wife doing hot compresses for me, has anybody else tried Pregbailn and what are your experiences with it please?.

[Magnolia37]

Hello there, I was diagnosed with RA in June last year. It took a while to get my meds right, but now I am on sulfasalazine and pregabslon and the pregabalon was absolutely life changing for me. Literally overnight my pain diminished. Still get achy now and again, but I’m not in the constant pain anymore which is amazing...good luck with everything...😊

[Lincolnimp2457 in reply to Magnolia37]

Hi Thank you for that I am now on Pregabalin but still on mtx -how do you take sulfasalazine please if you don't mind me asking and does it do more or less the same as MTX please?

[Hidden in reply to Magnolia37]

Since joining this site only a couple of weeks. And finding out about medication that I've never heard of before. Which is so interesting. I've been on gold injections and steroids and now for quite a few year's on 30 milgrarms of methrexath injections. And pain medication morphine. I'm just wondering if it's because of my age which is 75 .that my consultan hasn't given me any other options. Or because I've had over 14 surgery's joint replacement lost two toes .but definitely do feel that after reading the post. Theirs other medcation that mybe would help me. And if you feel that it's life changer for you .I'm game for anything. So I shall talk to my RA consultan. Regards happy that you are getting medication that's giveing you a new lease of life.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Lincolnimp. I was diagnosed in 2008 & in that time meds have come & gone but I've been taking pregabalin since Nov 2016. We had to fine tune my dose as I had cognitive issues at 150mg twice daily so I take 125mg twice daily plus another 25mg if I feel it's needed & that helps enough. Prior to pregabalin I tried gabapentin which didn't help at all, so having gone through a long taper I was pleased pregabalin did once I'd titred up the dose. Whether it helps sleep I couldn't tell you because I'm also prescribed amitriptyline which definitively does, been on it around 3 years at 25mg mornings & 50mg evenings.

I'm also on MTX, 8 & a half years now, it was my second DMARD after HCQ stopped working. Sulfasalazine & leflunomide both had to be stopped because of side effects. Co-codamol 30/500mg, etoricoxib, buprenorphine & Oramorph conclude my main meds. Oh & prednisolone, only 2mg, though I hope to be able to restart the taper I'd started when LEF failed me.

I hope pregabalin continues to work well for you, & it gives you many more good nights sleep. 😊

[Lincolnimp2457 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank you so much for that I cannot use prednisolone as it gives me terrible constipation I am ever so grateful for your reply it has really helped me - thank you once again