Hi all.
I saw my Doc. last night and he is starting me on Pregabalin today whilst I continue to taper off the gabapentin. I will be dropping the Gabapentin in quite large chunks so I quite nervous about what may happen while the Pregabalin kicks in.
Does anyone have any advice please?
Id say relax and try to trust the doc. I was worried about preagablin but doc started slow with low dose and now most days i take 3x 150mg for my rls and fm type pain in legs and feet. I use codiene too if my feet really hurt/burn.
I never thought id sleep properly again but at the mo this stuff has given me much better sleep and less pain and frustration 
Goodluck
Hi Sparker,
I have started taking Lyrica recently (only a starter dose of 25mg per day in hard capsule form) and one thing I see is that it is very expensive compared to Requip. A packet of 60 x 25 mg capsules is costing me €42 so if I end up at the dosage you are on it'll be costing me a lot. Would you mind sharing how much you pay for your doses? Thanks
Hi Mine is prescribed at the mo.
Hi i take pregablin .one in the day and one at night and sometimes try to avoid the one in the day as they do make me feel sleepy at work. doesnt always stop my rls but does help and avoid taking more as i believe that the more you take you depend on them.
Hi twitch,
I'm on 900mg of gabapentin ( & have been for 6 months) but lately it seems to have stopped working for my RLS. Why have you switched to Lyrica ( pregabalin)? Was it because Gaba stopped working or because of side effects? I'm curious so that I can discuss with my GP?
Jools
Hi Jools.
The Gabapentin stopped working and I was taking higher and higher doses. I am now tapering it off and phasing in Lyrica. This is hard work but I'm hoping I will get some relief again.
Think I need to consider switching. It's just a shame the drugs for RLS become ineffective after months/years of working. We all seem to be on the merry-go-round of searching for the drug that works for us/ switching when drugs stop working.
Keep us posted on whether the Pregabelin works for you,
Good luck,
Jools
I have been on Pregabalin for about 6 months. I take up to 3 a day spread over 24he's. There is still times when the cramps and agitation start but when this happens I rub lavendar oil into my feet and back of my knees which seems to ease it a bit
I don't have any sage words of advice. I am also started recently on Lyrica 1 x 25mg capsule before going to bed each night as my prolonged release Requip (2 x 2mg per day) was no longer containing my RLS. I have queried with my consultant about reducing the amount of Requip that I am taking while the Lyrica takes the strain but he has recommended waiting a few months before reducing the Requip - afraid that is all I have to offer. Good luck with the transition and I hope that you manage to wean of the gabapentin with too much distress. I am interested to hear how you get on.
I have been trying to wean myself off Ropinerole because after about 6 years I was suffering from augmentation. I was up to 4mg per day and it had stopped being effective.
I started on 1x 75 mg Pregabalin twice a day and am now on 100mg twice a day. Over a 2 month period I have managed to cut Ropinerole down to 1 or 11/2 per day.
Pregabalin is obviously 'dulling down' my RLS, but it is not as effective as Ropinerole once was.
Scottie, if you are still on ropinirole, you will still be suffering dopamine augmentation. Look it up on here. The Lyrica won't help while you're still on a dopamine agonist. Suggest you reduce the ropinirole slowly - the rls will kick up during this time and at least 3 weeks after last dose and then the Lyrica will start to work. Suggest you ask GP for tramadol/ codeine while you're withdrawing from the dopamine agonist as that will help reduce the worst of the withdrawal.
Good luck
Jools
Can you take pregablin and ropinirole together! As Dr has just given me ropinirole as got bad rls and am still bumping pregablin up.
Your doctor doesn’t sound very knowledgeable about RLS. How much pregabalin are you currently taking and what dose are you increasing to?
Ropinirole is a dopamine agonist and it is a first line treatment but you should not take more than 0.5mg to start with.
I would not mix drugs until you know whether the Pregabalin is working. It takes 3 weeks to become effective and you should titrate slowly up to 150mg.
Avoid magnesium 3 hours before or afte pregabalin as they interact.
Also have a look at the list of drugs that make RLS worse- most anti depressants and anti histamines.
How long have you had RLS? Have you had serum ferritin checked?
Been on pregablin about 5weeks now. Take 50mg morning and 100mg at night. Also withdrawing from fentanyl and mst as they are no longer working as painkillers that's why I've been put on pregablin. Got really bad rls can't sleep or keep still at night!) so Dr gave me ropinirole to see if it helps. Just was a bit worried about taking them. I've managed to come off the mst no help from Dr just told had to get on with it. Haven't started reducing fentanyl yet as suffering so much with rls!
RLS is a side effect of withdrawal from heavy opioids like fentanyl.
I would not take Ropinirole. You need to have help withdrawing from an opioid- do it very slowly and ask if you can have Low Dose Naltrexone or Naloxone, both of which will help.
Please research withdrawal sites.
Ropinirole will just add to the problems.
Pregabalin won’t really help until you’re through the fentanyl withdrawal.
Also any magnesium interacts with pregabalin so take it 2/3 hours apart.
Thanks. Because of being ex addict 15yrs clean mind! They won't give me anything to help so just cutting down slowly. I no my legs are to do with withdrawal but it's to the point of insanity! That's why Dr gave me ropinirole! But I've decided to just ride it out and not take them!! Thank you.
This is really hard! I'm waking up during the night with full body shocks and I am just so tired.
I am due back to the doctor on the 26th and I may just ask him to have me put down as I wouldn't put my dogs through this. 
Twitch, can you not see your doctor before that date.? He/she needs to know how badly you are suffering. Maybe the dropping the Gabapentin in big chunks is not helping
Thank you Elisse. It's only a few days now so I'll soldier on. I just needed a bit of a pity party I think.
Well i think we all have had one of those pity parties before, i know i have a few times. The forum is a good place to vent when we are feeling down or having a tough time.
Difference between gabapentin and pregabalin? 
Pregabalin 
Pregabalin/Gabapentin?
Switching from Gabapentin to Pregabalin
