Pregabalin

[antbeech1963]

Hi everyone

sorry have note been on here for along time. hope you are all coping well during the cold weather and covid. i have managed to see a physio and neurolgist and they are going to try me on pregabalin insted of gabapenting. can anyone tell me what they are like do they make you more tired or drowsy as i am still working 16 hours a week and drive for a living and dont do to much heavy work because its with employment and support. so if you could advise me as i dont want this to effect my job. i know it s differant for everyone but just a bit more info than what i have read

Many Thanks

Antbeech

[etheral]

I had been taking pregabalin 75 MG 3times daily for neuropathy. Although effective, the blurry vision, vestibular problems and general weakness woul have prevented me from driving. Best wishes, etheral

[antbeech1963 in reply to etheral]

Hi etheral thanks for replying i recieved call back today saying i will be on 75mg 1 in morning 1 at night to start then 2 in morning 2 at night so hope it does not efect my driving because i need to drive for work . but i hope you have found something thats not causing you problems .Many Thanks Antbeech

[Cat33]

I have just been put on Pregabalin 50mg for sciatica nerve pain I must admit I was a bit nervous about taking them and my doctor warned me that they would make me drowsy but I haven't noticed any difference at all So I hope that you will find the same

Wishing you all the very best

[antbeech1963 in reply to Cat33]

Hi Cat33 many thanks for your reply i am hoping they work for me as they have for you Cat i will start on 75mg. Take Care

Antbeech

[Cat33 in reply to antbeech1963]

I have been in absolute agony the doctor warned me they would take 7-10 days to work and oh my goodness they have just kicked in and I'm beginning to feel so much betterI hope you get the same result good luck xx

[antbeech1963 in reply to Cat33]

Hi Cat33 the same the pain is prety much everywhare and not much has been working.its trial and error so hope they work. take care stay safe and keep well

Many Thanks

Antbeech

1963

[Cat33 in reply to antbeech1963]

I was in so much pain that I was breaking down in tears all the time I really despaired of anything working but having been on the Pregabalin now for nearly 2 weeks I can't believe it I feel so much better All the very very best pain is so awful and wearing xx

[nodmeister]

I just put on a lot of weight. Good luck.

[antbeech1963 in reply to nodmeister]

Hi nodmeister thanks for your reply most people say the same about putting weight on.Many Thanks

Antbeech

[Emma2017]

Hi there. I was on gabapentin to start with but it affected my vision. So I was switched immediately to pregabalin. It did make me feel drowsy to start with but you quickly get used to it. So maybe switch on a Saturday so you have the weekend to get used to it. Whatever dose you are on with Gabapentin, expect to take a sixth or so in pregabalin as it is a stronger drug it seems. I was on a high dose of gabapentin and then was cut to the highest dose of Pregabalin which was 600mg. I am now down to 25mg. Expect to put weight on which luckily all came off when I reduced.

[antbeech1963 in reply to Emma2017]

Hi Emma2017 so i have been on 600mg in the morning 900 in the afternoon 900 at night with gabapenting. to tell you the truth it did not help me that much. only at night taken together with Amitripyline to help me sleep as well as paracetamol .so i will start with 75mg in morning 75mg at night of pregablin.i just lost a stone hopefully i wont put weight on. Many Thanks

Antbeech

[Emma2017 in reply to antbeech1963]

Gabapentin did not do too much for me either. Pregabalin is a stronger alternative but don’t expect miracles. For me it just took the edge of which helped somewhat. In the end though I did not want to carry on. Coming of it is like coming of a class A drug and it took me 8 or 9 months to go from 600mg to 25mg a day. I also take dihydrocodeine but mainly at night. You were on a reasonably high dose of gabapentin so you might find the switch to just 150mg of pregabalin a day quite hard but if it works go for it as the more you take the harder it is to come of it. Good luck.

[antbeech1963 in reply to Emma2017]

Hi Emma2017 i can only try it thanks for your input i have already started to reduce my gabapentin and things are paining everywhare so i will start on 150mg going up to 300mg a day.thanks again for your reply. stay safe and well as you can

Many Thanks

Antbeech

[micox]

Hi. I took Pregabalin for a few years and I found it very effective for reducing nerve pain. However I also got fed up with it fogging my thinking and, on balance, came off it. Coming off was a long nightmare (about three months) because of withdrawal symptoms.

[antbeech1963 in reply to micox]

Hi micox i am hoping it will reduce my nerve pain as it has for you but the fogging i have been getting with gabapentin is very frustrating. so thats one thing i dont want to get worse. if it dont work for me i will have to rethink.Many Thanks

Antbeech

[weathervane]

I take pregabalin 100mg twice a day . I started on it very gradually until i got to the optimum dose . Im able to drive without any issues , though I didn’t drive for a while when i was increasing the dose until i knew it was ok . I have found it to be very effective for nerve pain , i have put on a bit of weight but i have to deal with that .Your gp should be able to advise you how to gradually increase to a dose that suits you .

Best wishes!

[antbeech1963 in reply to weathervane]

Hi weathervane so i will start on 75mg twice aday then 150mg in morning then 150mg at night so i will have see how it efects me my driving is important because its my job only16 hours a day but geting out of the house keeps me saine. everyone says the same about putting weight on.its not as if we can get on a tredmill and lose it. they going to call me back two weeks later to see how its working. but if it disagrees with me i will have to speak to them sooner. Many Thanks

Antbeech

[weathervane]

Thats alot to start off with ! I think I started at 25 and went up slowly!

[Scotton]

Hi Mari 31. I have had chronic abdominal pain for many years. I take pregabalin 4 times a day (150 mg) and tramadol. Lidocaine patches if the pain is bad. I have no problems with any of those. I’m not 100% sure lidocaine patches work, more a psychological help I think. I do Mindfulness which I think is a help. (I learnt that at a pain clinic). Professor mark williams at Oxford uni. Does tapes, some of which are free.

Try to fill your life with other things to distract attention away from the pain if possible. Hard I know, but it helps.

I lie fairly still for a few days on the bed until the nerve pains settle down.

I hope this helps someone.

[antbeech1963 in reply to Scotton]

Hi Scotton Thanks for your reply sorry its taken 20 days to reply time flies when your in pain i have tried mindfulness when i was being treated with the physio .it was not for me.i live in oxford so i am lucky we have the best treatment around .i still work i am lucky because i have a work coach and there is no presure and when you have a bad moment you can take time out. even though we are in constant pain we dont show it so on the outside we look good but under the bonnet we are breaking down . lieing down is ok with pillows under your legs or back is ok but i tend to have to get up unless i have taken certain tablets to help you rest.we will always find differant ways to help our selfs and thats all we can do but everyones idea is worth trying. so thanks fo your input. stay safe and as well as you can .Many Thanks Antbeech63

🙂