pregabalin for peripheral neuropathy

[BeachsideVia]

I am 7 weeks on Methotrexate, 5 mg prednisone. Am in the middle of switching my neuropathy meds. Went from 60 to 30 mg duloxitine for a month (cymbalta). Having a lot of breakthrough pain, aches. My doc said go ahead and start pregabalin (lyrica) 25 am and 25 pm, and take 4 weeks to reduce cymbalta. Of course ( naughty me) I have been reading horror stories about pregabalin. My neuropathic pain was better with cymbalta, but is not good for my liver, and I want to minimize trauma to my liver while on Methotrexate. Im also hoping I can stay on a low ish dose.

[Deeb1764]

every drug including paracetamol has side effects and it is all dependent on each person. I take 50mg in the morning and 50g at night of pregablin and after the initial 2 weeks on starting I have been fine.

I started on 100mg originally but find 50mg is enough so maybe look at a low dose start and see how you feel.

I sleep better and my pain much less than when on the duloxcetine and amitriptyline.

All of us on here will have a horror story for a drug for them but someone else it’s the best thing ever!

[BeachsideVia in reply to Deeb1764]

Thanks! Some people need such high doses. I hope a lower dose works

[BeachsideVia]

yes, thanks!

[Runrig01]

I took it when I had GCA and suffered dreadfully with burning temples. I was gradually increased to the max dose of 300mg twice daily. The only issue I had was rapid weight gain, so I weaned myself off it. It was good at managing the pain though. Give it a try, your not guaranteed to get side effects

[BeachsideVia in reply to Runrig01]

weight gain is a worry. I have lost weight while on my anti inflammatory diet, which didnt help my inflammation but made me develop good eating habits. If it increases my appetite I’m doomed! It’s sad. When I have an appetite I do lots of cooking, give to neighbors, everybody loves it, but I gain weight

[brewster12]

I took it for a few months but had awful side effects.effects.If I bent forward I would headbutt the floor.floor.My brain was like mush,couldn't remember anything for 2 minutes at a time.time.Driving was out of the question as well as permanently mushy headed.headed.As I was Carer to a very sick husband & needed to be alert for his needs & making his appointment s at hospital etc I stopped taking it.it.To be honest it didn't really help with the nerve pain & Dr kept increasing the dose,75 in the morning100 at night.night.I weaned myself off them.them.Still have PTN pain after 2 years but glad I got off the Pregabalin.

[BeachsideVia in reply to brewster12]

I was on Gabapentin years ago for my neuropathy, 400 mg, and I felt loopy but the pain lessened. Then I started having memory issues. Couldn’t remember my address, put chicken salad in the dish cupboard…. Freaked me out! Went off it, then started years of trying effexor, tramadol, cymbalta… and now I am trying lyrica and plan to put all perishables in the fridge!

[Cassie1956]

i have been on pregabalin for some years now, started initially on 75mg twice a day but as my neuropathy had worsened over time I increased to100mg twice a day. I thought I would try for a time without, just relying on my nefopam but with the first week I suffered dreadful burning pains in my lower legs so quickly started them again. They, together with nefopam, control my neuropathy very well. Of course side effect are different in people, I cannot have methotrexate because of really bad side effects. All I can say is I would not be without my pregabalin.

[BeachsideVia in reply to Cassie1956]

good news that it works! As I decreased cymbalta I I started getting lower leg pains and the knife stabbing in my feet. Im going off cymbalta to ease up on my liver, since Ive started MTX. Soon aftet I took my first dose of lyrica last night(25 mg), I felt the pain ease. I am hopeful, and wish you success too!