Experiences of Pregabalin v Gabapentin please

I would be very interested, please, to hear anyone's experiences of taking both these meds (not at the same time of course) as I am considering whether to try Gabapentin despite the fact Pregabalin didn't work for me and the side effects were horrid. I am worried Gabapentin might be just as bad, but maybe it works in a different way and I'll be able to tolerate it better? My main issue is PLMS and insomnia, with a side order of RLS thrown in when I am not able to rest during the day (ie at work, hence currently signed off sick yet again).

Thanks as always for the support and advice on this site, I do not know where I would be without it...probably experiencing augmentation from DAs which my consultant never warned me about!!!! I was quite lucky in that Ropinirole did not work for me (total insomnia) so I stopped after a month, and won't be trying any other DAs after what I have read and been signposted to on this forum.

[dancer2]

I know that Gabapentin works for some. However, my experience with it has been a nightmare! I suffered severe depression, tremors, anxiety, memory loss, etc. I have been off it for 5 months and am slowly returning to normal. Unfortunately, I had to turn to Methadone for treatment of the RLS..

[Hidden in reply to dancer2]

Thanks dancer2, that sounds horrible and somewhat similar to what I experienced on Pregablin. I hope the methadone is working for you.

[Pam34 in reply to Hidden]

Not tried gabapentin but am currently on Pregabalin and find it very good. Just proves how we are all different!

[Hidden in reply to Pam34]

Indeed we are, which does make me think the causes of RLS/PLMS are much more varied than the current medical focus on dopamine.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I agree. Wish so much that all the researchers would continue to think out of the box. There have to be several different causes and mechanisms

[dickJones]

I had a good year on Gabapentin. Consistent nocturnal relief from PLMD & no cold turkey when I discontinued it after it stopped working. One single low intensity dose of Prebalin had me zomboid the following day, swimming through gloop at work & out for the count at home. But with these various meds that we work our way through as our know-nothing doctors - the blind leading the blind - flail around, trying to find us a way out of RLS/PLMD, you have to remember that it's different strokes for different folks. So my experience of Gabapentin may be entirely irrelevant in your case. But at least it was positive for me & I very much hope it will he for you too. Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to dickJones]

That gives me some hope that Gaba could be worth trying and that I shouldn't rule it out because of my reaction to Preg. What a pity that it only worked for a year.

[dickJones in reply to Hidden]

I sort of bailed out early. I hadn't taken into account that Gabapentin will tolerate quite high dosages so you'll need to take that into account.

[Hidden in reply to dickJones]

Out know nothing Drs have a very tricky time trying to work it all out. I was/am a know nothing Dr with my own really really awful RLS and peripheral neuropathy which is like hell at night. I just want to plug away begging for more research because no one can know what hasn't yet been discovered. I suspect that even a Dr trying to know as much as possible is going to think that we are all suffering from the same condition and copy what worked for his/her last patient ( before the side effects kicked in or the effect wore off ) and think that whatever that was will work for all.

I used to beg my GP to keep prescribing Pregabalin for me before it was officially known to help RLS. And then the effect wore off and I'm not sure if I wish I'd ever taken it.

Canvass for research and open minds please. My wish is that before I die I get some years of a decent sleep as imagining this will go on forever doesn't bear thinking about!

[mam6818]

I experienced weight gain and swollen legs and feet from edema when I took either of those drugs, with no noticeable relief from RLS.

[rls_optimist]

Hi, TATTiana, I have tried all of the alpha-2-delta drugs: gabapentin, pregabalin and Horizant. All of those have been pretty effective (along with my other drugs, 2 mg Neupro patch and 10 mg methadone - my case is pretty serious). But of the three, gabapentin has the most mild side effects, so I'm sticking with that. I take 1800 mg of that. Pregabalin made me rather tippy at times: I'd turn my head and suddenly feel like I was about to fall over. Also blurry vision in AM. Horizant lasted too long in my system, making me feel woozy most of the day (took it in evening). But we are all different. I'd say it's worth a try. Good luck!

[tom137]

Tried pregabalin and made me too dizzy to continue. Started gabapentin 100 mg for a week, then 200, finally effective for two years at 300. Now up to 600 at bedtime only. No side effects. Get about 5-6 hours sleep. But also take iron twice a day as serum ferritin at 67 was not increasing with just iron glycinate at bedtime.

[Hidden]

Thank you everyone for the benefit of your experiences. As usual, it proves WAAD theory but does give me some assurance that just because I suffered on pregabalin, it does not necessarily mean I will on gabapentin - and it might help. My current thinking is I will suggest to my consultant we try gabapentin with a back up of either tramadol or clonazepam.