Pregabalin Withdrawals?

[Twin4Life]

Hello,

My sister started taking pregabalin a few weeks ago. She was taking 25mg twice a day. Four days ago she stopped taking it as she was concerned that it might be making her feel extremely fatigued. However, she is still feeling extremely fatigued. And, now she is also experiencing burning in her chest/lungs, throat, and tongue.

Has anyone who has come off of pregabalin experienced these symptoms as withdrawal effects?

I've taken her in to see someone at our local surgery, but we were unable to see a doctor, and the woman we did see believed she should take heartburn medication and see a dentist. She said there was nothing she could do. And, she advised going to A and E if my sister felt really ill. But, I've been to A and E because I was experiencing some horrible symptoms and the people at A and E told me my situation was not an emergency and that I should go see my GP. (I had already seen my GP and they had told me to go to A and E if I felt really bad.)

Does anyone have any advice? I really don't know where to go to get her help, because it seems like the NHS is just playing pass the parcel with everyone.

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello there,I am taking amitriptyline for migraine prevention,just 20mg at night.I have been taking it for about 5 years and have tried to come off it twice.What is the reason your sister is taking the medication?I believe it is similar to amitriptyline and needs to be tapered off.If you just stop it dead you can experience withdrawal symptoms.She should maybe get advice as to how to taper off,or see if another medication might be more suitable for her.I cut one of my tablets in half,so reduced to 15mg per night,but within 2 days my migraine auras were back.Obviously I still need them so I put my dose straight back up.

Hope this helps,best wishes to your sister.

[Fra22-57]

with this kind of medication you just can’t stop it abruptly.You need to slowly taper off .Whoever prescribed it should be able to help you do this.If not ask to see another doctor.I was told to stop taking all my meds including the pregabalin for my last dose overnight and next morning due before having a hospital procedure.That couldn’t take place as I collapsed and ended up in hospital with withdrawal symptoms

[anna1234567]

yes, I had a horrible time getting off Pregabaline. I found this group on FB that really helped me through it. I went back on it and tapered much slower. I opened up capsules and diluted it with water and used a syringe.

[CatsandCars in reply to anna1234567]

I withdrawal from it. I immediately went back to the dose I was taking. Then I started to open the capsule and pour a little bit out each day. I very slowly increased the amount I was removing over a few months until I was off of it.

My symptoms were very different, though. I just had an intense sensation of impending doom. I think following up with a GP or A & E if she still has symptoms is important, because that could be something else that's potentially serious.

[Midori83]

The national healthcare in UK is finished...It's not heartburn and nothing to do with teeth...Please advise your sister to see a neurologist. I had the same symptoms on 2 occasions, when I reduced the dosage of Gabapentin (very similar to pregabalin) from three times daily to twice a day. It felt like a heart attack. Are you based in London? There are excellent neurologists at St. George's Hospital.

[Twin4Life in reply to Midori83]

How long did your symptoms last for?

[Midori83 in reply to Twin4Life]

I think 3 or 4 days.

[Twin4Life in reply to Midori83]

Ok, thanks or your reply. My sister is still experiencing the pain and it has been over a week. If it doesn't improve soon, I will be calling the GP again. Not that I think they will do anything.

[Black_Cat1]

Hello my daughter is on pregabalin 125mg 2 times a day. She has fibromyalgia and have been on it for 3 years now and it's the best pain blocker she's had. She has tried all the others and have found them very harsh and terrible side effects.

Just my opinion - your sis was on a very low dose and two weeks is not really long enough for the meds to kick in.

However everyone is different and she may have stopped to abruptly as her body was probably adjusting to the meds.

I'm sorry the NHS is being rubbish, the best thing to do is dial 111 and get advice.

It did take a while for my daughter to get used to the pregabalin and started low and now she can be pain free most days.

Hope this has helped somehow

🙏🌹

[Twin4Life]

Thank you everyone for your replies and concern. I really appreciate it. I would like to say, that my sister does know she shouldn't stop taking pregabalin without tapering it off. But, as she was taking the lowest dose possible there wasn't really anyway to take less. (She is taking pills not tablets, so she couldn't break it in half.)

[Chocolategrigio]

I started with pregabalin in Nov for neuralgia, 50mg dose 3 x a day gradually increased to 200mg 2 x a day but I felt awful on it, felt fatigued, dizzy, had terrible headaches & brain fog plus heartburn & reflux, I also gained over a stone in weight as it increased my appetite hugely.

GP changed me to gabapentin 300mg 3 x a day & I felt worse on that.

Now I’m on amitriptyline 30mg dosage at night, it is reducing some of my symptoms but not taking them away & I find as day goes on I get worse. I have twice asked to be referred to a neurologist & this hasn’t been done even though GP tells me that they will do this, I now have no choice than to go private.

Your sisters GP should change her meds if they aren’t suiting her, it is down to them to find the right meds & dosage that suit the individual. I wish you all the best of luck.

[Ilovedonkeys]

Hi there I’m in the USA Texas!!!Ive been on Pregabalin for many years 150mg 3 times daily When we had a shortage this year is when I learned that for me the withdrawal was severe Who knew? Everyone is different in how long it takes to get off but you cannot stop it abruptly She may even need to ask for a liquid to really control the dose reduction Or perhaps open the capsules and dose that way My frustration is that Drs downplay how difficult it is to stop these meds I found it harder than when I ran out of my opiates or stopping benzos Just go slow and easy God bless y’all

KF