Pregabalin

[Esme2007]

Hi

I have caught up with the recent posts as I wasn’t too well . I started Pregabalin 25 mg 10 days ago . First couple of nights - no RLS which is unheard of for me . Then a terrible night of awful RLS ( I get it all over ) . My GP only prescribed 28 tablets and as I am going away to Devon will run out whilst I’m there . The GP who prescribed them was not a familiar one . ( telephone consultation) I’m putting in a request for a repeat bit should I ask for my dose to be increased to 50 ? I did this two nights and slept eventually. It’s all so very confusing. Just wanted some advice from you guys. Thank you 😊

[Heatherlss]

Hi,

It could well be that pregabalin was not effective enough to control your RLS at 25mg rather because you took it for the first time, it was new for your body and it put you to sleep. Once the body has adjusted to that dose its not effective enough to control your RLS. I hope I did not confuse you further.

The minimum effective dose for pregabalin is 150mg.

[Esme2007 in reply to Heatherlss]

Thank you so much everyone 😊

[Joolsg]

As Heather has advised, 25mg is too low for RLS.

You should ask the GP for up to 150mg and titrate up slowly by 25mg every 2 days. That way you can avoid side effects and monitor how it affects your RLS.

It also takes 3 weeks to be fully effective.

Refer your GP to this website and he/she will soon see that the average dose is 150mg- up to 300mg maximum.

[LotteM]

Hi Esme, it may well be that your recent bout of no RLS was owing to your not being too well, to quote your own words. Many of us, including me, have experienced cessation of symptoms during illness, eg severe cold or the flu.

As to the pregabalin, 25mg is a very low dose to be effective. Usually it needs 75-150mg. So indeed it seems wise to ask for more and build up, by first increasing to 50mg, then after a few days 75mg. Usually, pregabalin like gabapentin take a few weeks to become effective. I hope it works out for you!

[Esme2007 in reply to LotteM]

Hi thank you so much for replying. Yes - I also thought it could have been because I felt unwell . Reading through all the posts I realise that 25 mg is low and yes that it has to build up - it gives me some hope ! It’s just so awful isn’t it that we all have to go through this . I rang my gp today and I was number 43 in the queue on the line . So I’ve done a handwritten request explaining everything and will pop it in to them tomorrow. There is a online form but I had an urgent request of other medication and online they respond within 72 hours . I do understand though that Covid has done this . I will let you know how I get on !

[LotteM in reply to Esme2007]

🤞🏼

[Hidden]

Just going to add a +1 to Heatherlss - 150 mg is MINIMUM for effect. Hope you get relief soon.

[Esme2007]

Thank you so very much

[Bandit64]

ESME 2007 'Pregabalin is fine at first but your body soon gets used to it ' quicker than most drugs ' but your GP will probably not prescribe a larger dose than 50 mgs so probably will not be much help"Doctors still dont really know what causes Rls so are still trying what they can to releave your problems .Hope that can be of some help .