Pregabalin

[billymccormick]

Is Pregabalin helping anyone for rls?

[Hidden]

Hello, I've never used pregabalin, but I do take gabapentin which is the same class of medicine as pregabalin i.e. an alpha 2 delta ligand.

Pregabalin and gabapentin do have more or less the same action and more or less the same side effects and complications.

Gabapentin is less potent and less consistent in its effect than pregabalin.

Both have initial side effects of drowsiness, dizziness and stumbling when walking. Another side effect is blurred or doubke vision. Not everyone experiences these to the same extent. For some people they wear off or are a minor irritation, Others cannot tolerate them.

Some people experience weight gain.

Complications include respiratory depression for those with pre-existing conditions causing central respiratory depression, including opiate use. A few people experience visual impairment e.g tunnel vision.

Some people find that if they have problems with gabapentin, then switching to pregabalin helps or vice versa, although it's not quite clear why this should be.

Pregabalin is not quite as helpful for PLMD for those that have this as well as RLS.

I have been taking gabapentin and nothing else for my RLS for over a year. Sometimes I'm drowsy in the morning, rarely dfizzy. I also have some mild blurred vision in the morning. I haven't gained weight and I rarely have RLS symptoms.

[billymccormick in reply to Hidden]

I think I mentioned it before but I read that RLS is caused by lack of potassium, and magnesium. So I eat 2 big bananas before bedtime and I take 100 ml pregablin any way for sleep. So far it's doing the trick. I've just started looking at the benefits of 85 percent Dark Chocolate. It seems to have a lo of benefits. Hope you find a solution. On

[Hidden]

I've been on pregabalin for 2 weeks now and it does seem to be helping

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It may need up to 4 weeks to be fully effective and you will probably need to be taking at least 150mg.

[Pam34]

If you read my previous entries I have been on 150mg of pregabalin for nearly 2 years. After augmentation on Ropinirole and tolerance of tramadol I was persuaded by my neurologist to try pregabalin.

It gives me 80% coverage which realistically I think is the best we can hope for. Yes, like any strong drugs there are side effects. For me they were balance issues and weight gain both of which stabilised after a few months. Personally I am prepared to put up with the side effects as I get a good night sleep and that’s priceless.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Pam

[Zappa61]

Hi I've just had to come off pregabalin after 2 weeks, started on 75mg for a week, Dr phoned me he left 150mg for the next week upping them, well I had swollen feet & ankles something I've never had also headaches they were bad, he's put me on Amitriptyline 10mg to build up to 30mg today hope this work's, Stay safe

[Kaarina Administrator in reply to Zappa61]

Hi Zappa61,

Amitriptyline is one of the medications that many sufferers find makes their symptoms much worse. I hope this will not be the case with you. Medications to Avoid are listed in this link: rls-uk.org/treatment

[Smiler53 in reply to Zappa61]

Amitriptyline can make RLS a lot worse unfortunately 😬

[Zappa61]

Thank you ever so much, I know my Dr want's to help but so far as I read here it's as if its untreatable dealing with pain & med's, once again thank you

[billymccormick in reply to Zappa61]

I read somewhere that low potassium can cause RLS, so I have 2 bananas and 100 mg pregablin 30 mins before bed time and I sleep soundly.Worth a try.

[wantokporo]

Pregabalin stopped my PLMD at 50mg but have had to increase, mainly to help with sleep. Up to 225mg. Almost totally stopped PLMDs, but still have to watch food triggers (sugar, high glutamate foods). Suffer with daytime sedation, but can drink more caffeine without problems and that helps some. Tried gabapentin twice and got depressed. "RLS expert" told me it wasn't worth trying pregabalin because I would get depressed. Five months and no depression yet. Best drug I have had in 10 years of trying for stopping the jerking, except methadone which made me even more sedated, but people do get all kinds of weird side effects.

[lee_uk]

I’ve been on 225mg of Pregabalin now for 3 weeks (slowly increased from 75mg). I swear it’s making my RLS worse, as I’ve had only 1 semi decent nights sleep. Should I switch to gabapentin?