Going from gabapentin to pregabalin..

[Lynzhoppy1]

Has anyone gone from gabapentin to pregabalin?? I’m currently taking 3,200 mg of gabapentin a day and the pain team have recommended I move to pregabalin as I’m still really struggling with pain.. So I’m just wandering if you’ve made the move and how you found it?

[Matt8394Alien]

The Army had me on gabapentine at first for nerve damage and was not much use for me. Changed to Lyrica and felt a big difference. One issue is if I miss taking my Lyrica my nerve pain flares up fast and I feel restless legs.

[Lynzhoppy1 in reply to Matt8394Alien]

It worked for me initially, it’s just that my dose has had to be increased that much that they now feel trying pregabalin is worth a try. I’m glad Lyrica is helping you and hope it continues to do so xx

[Pinky2233]

I started on pregabeline and it helped more w pain but I felt drunk so switched to gabapentin.. Let me know how you do as I’ve wanted to switch back since it helped more with pain. I hear some people are on both

I also have been using Quell bought at Best Buy it has helped for sleep as an addition

Keeep me posted

[Lynzhoppy1 in reply to Pinky2233]

I was like that on gabapentin at first lol, but luckily it settled down after a couple of days. I will let you know how I get on with the pregabalin xx

[Delzek]

Hi Lynsey, I have said before that what works for me or you may not work for the next patient. I was on Gabbapentin then got moved to Pregabalin as Gabbapentin just made me drowsy! I have now stopped the Pregabalin because I got even drowsyer! And I started to hallucinate , that scared me badly as I was not sure if I was having flashbacks dreaming or having a breakdown! I have a neighbour who is on Pregabalin again after coming off of Gabbapentin! But the. Pregabalin works wonders for him! I just take the Oramorph and Zomorph as main pain killers yet they don't really take all the pain away, I really believe that we should still feel some pain whilst on painkillers otherwise we may not feel pain elsewhere that may give us an idea what is happening to the rest of our bodies! ( I just wish mine was a lot less as it is really bad at the moment! I have a problem with sleep as it is, I either sleep for days on end or I don't sleep for day's on end ! Can't win either way)!!!! ) I hope the Pregabalin works for you ,all the best Derek

[Lynzhoppy1 in reply to Delzek]

Hi Derek,

The hallucinations and stuff does sound scary! No wander you stopped them.

Luckily I’ve had nothing like that yet, but I am only on day 2 of going off gabapentin and onto pregabalin.

I agree with you that we should feel a level of pain, I’m just fed up of this chronic back and pelvic pain, it’s been 10 years now and I’m only getting worse. I’m 32, got 2 children. I lost my job and my drivers license, I just feel isolated and alone. Fed up and like my life is passing before my eyes and I’m just on the sidelines watching.

[Emma2017]

Hi there, yes I was on gabapentin but I got eyesight troubles. I was therefore switched to pregabalin. I was started on a much lower dose than what I took while on gabapentin. The reason as was explained to me that you only need to take a third dosage wise in mg of pregabalin in comparison to gabapentin. I made a straight switch and found that pregabalin works a lot better for me without any problems. The initial drowsiness did settle after a short while.

[cj75s2017 in reply to Emma2017]

so you can do a straight switch? I thought you had to come off gabapentin first, a couple of weeks, then go onto the next one. I'm currently on 30000mg of gp. It helps, but doesn't completely stop the pain. I'm in pain 24/7 but not too much pain. Should I go back to my docs and say "hey I'm in pain still, can you suggest anything else or on top of?

[Emma2017 in reply to cj75s2017]

Because of my eyesight trouble he switched me straight from gabapentin to pregabalin. It was noroblem. They are drugs for exactly the same thing and are often called the sister drugs. However some people do better on one than the other. Pregabalin needs to be taken at a much lower dose so that to me seems better. I was on 1800 gb and now take 500 to 600 pregabalin and feel much much better. Still pain but the drug seems to have less side effects on me. Before all that I was given amytriptilyne but that gave me horrible restless legs so that one did not do it for me. I do also take a low dose of slow releasing tramedol which does help. So you could go back to your doctor and discuss things. I am seeing a pain specialist who has been great.

[Lynzhoppy1 in reply to Emma2017]

Hi Emma,

I’m glad to hear the pregabalin is working for you 😊 I’m having to wean off one while going onto the other, I think it’s going to be a slow process but hopefully worth it x

[Meerkat_07]

I've been on Pregabalin after switching from Gabapentin. I do prefer it.

I also was switched from Amytrptylene to Noratriptylene to take at night.

Things have slightly improved, but I am still going to have Nerve Block injections into my neck/lower scalp in July. They are really excruciatingly painful injections, but for approx three months I am virtually pain free in my neck and head, and can stop taking the oral meds, so it's worth it.

My side effects are tiredness and dry mouth st the moment. I Aldo have the 10mg Butec patches and Methotrexate tabs once a week.

If only there were a permanent treatment that could keep us all drug free.

I also take blood pressure tabs and cholesterol tabs.

Ten years ago I was healthy, but it all started to go downhill after the menopause.😱

[TalulahGrammar1989]

If you don’t mind me asking what is pregabalin I’ve been on gabapentin and it hardly helped I have broken discs in my back and two hemorrhaged too!

[Emma2017]

Hi Talulah, gabapentin and pregabalin are like sister drugs. Some react better to one then the other. They were both antidepressant drugs but they found that they also helped with referred nerve pain. I find it helps with my referred nerve pain in my leg but not for my back pain for which I get tramadol which does seem to help somewhat with that.

[Kinkybear1973]

I have been using Gabapentin / Pregabalin at different times for 15 years now as the pain centre put me on these. I had a spinal stroke and take numerous tablets for pain relief. As well as the morphine full strength patch.

These drugs are normally used for epilepsy but they were found to be useful for other pains too. Gabapentin is great for neuro pain and pain through injury, whereas Pregabalin is more effective in some instances even more so with those who have neuro pain due to diabetes.

The pain centre is the best place to advise you of any New drugs or to ensure you get the best relief for your pain as this is what they are trained in. They can also give larger doses than Drs.

Both Gabapentin and Pregabalin are now both controlled drugs too.