Pregabalin

Hi, I recently changed medication from. Pramipexole which was augmenting to Pregabalin. I have worked my dosage up from the initial 25mg per night to 150mg. Early signs were encouraging but now it's as bad as ever, up walking the floors through the early hours of the morning. This is so frustrating.

[Hidden]

If you're still taking the pramipexole then you will still be augmenting in which case pregabalin won't be very effective.

If by "recent" you mean less than 4 weeks then be aware that pregabalin takes about that long to start working.

If you have recently reduced the dose of pramipexole you will be suffering withdrawal effects which the pregabalin may not control.

If you stopped pramipexole suddenly these withdrawal effects can be very severe and possibly dangerous.

[Palamino in reply to Hidden]

Hi can I ask u how would I go about weaning off Pregablin I've only been on it a month but have now got temegisic . The pregablin is 50mg . As it's been a short time would this make any difference?

[Hidden in reply to Palamino]

I have no experience of withdrawing from pregabalin and it is rarely mentioned in this community.

I imagine as you're on a relatively low dose and haven't been taking it that long then you could reduce it fairly fast, but to be on the safe side, not too fast.

I'd say halve it, 25mg, for a week, then stop.

[LotteM in reply to Hidden]

I agree with Manerva on the pregabalin reduction. Also, always observe how you react and adjust if necessary.

[Palamino in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply am waitin on my doc to get back to me as they are capsules and unless I start messing around trying to half them I'm gonna have to wait for him as I only have 3 left . Hopefully they do then in 25mg will make life easier

[Hidden in reply to Palamino]

Pregabalin capsules come in 25mg, 50mg and 100mg capsules.

[Palamino in reply to Hidden]

Ok thanks I split one tonite . I emptied out a ginger capsule and used that u til my doctor contacts me .

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I'm off pramipexole for 3 weeks now. It was really bad for about a week during the changeover but I had been optimistic that the Pregabalin was easing the symptoms, that's why this past 2 nights seem such a setback. I'm thinking of increasing to 200mg tonight.

[LotteM in reply to Hidden]

Boru, don't act too fast. You may still be suffering drom the aftereffects of coming off the pramipexole. If you do want to increase your pregabalin, go more slowly. Do you have 25 mg or capsules? And if you increase, wait at least a week before you increase again. It will get better.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

As Lotte says, as you've only recently stopped pramipexole you may still be experiencing withdrawal effects especially if you weaned off it too fast, e.g. in less than 3 months.

I agree with Lotte try increasing pregabalin in 25mg steps.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the advice. And of course you are both right, I'll increase by 25mg and give that a week. I guess I just want instant results when I actually know that is not going to happen, but it's really frustrating when walking the floor at night.

[LotteM in reply to Hidden]

We know! And we understand! The 'torture' and the frustration. One night at a time; it will get better.

[Clarina123 in reply to Hidden]

Sorry I replied to you under Dick Jones post. Not familiar with this website.

[dickJones]

I'm on 450 mg and currently more or less PLMD free. It's a high dosage and may not suit everyone, but it was agreed with my GP. Side effects? Yes - I've put on weight significantly and I'm dizzy on awakening. However, you may well find a much lower dosage works for you; I'm resistant to most medication, which is a curse! I'm afraid every med we take in sheer desperation carries its payload of side effects. Sadly, our lives will never again be as they were.

[Clarina123 in reply to dickJones]

Hello. I,m in a similar place to you. Have just weaned off pramipexole with the help of codeine. I have been on it for 12 years, and it revolutionised my life, making it possible for me to go to the theatre, cinema, and do a few long haul flights. However as you know nothing lasts for ever! I am now starting on ropinrole, which I hope will be equally effective. Very slowly as recommended. Still getting jumps, but gradually improving. Today I am increasing to 4 of the 0.25 tablets. As yet I still need the help of the codeine, but I find I have been able to reduce these significantly. Have found my GP. Very helpful. Good luck with the pregabalen. I find this website very encouraging. There is so much knowledge of our problem.

[Clarina123 in reply to Clarina123]

Sorry I meant this as a reply to boru323

[Hidden in reply to Clarina123]

Just an update. I'm now on 175mg at night for this past 5 nights. Still getting up a couple of times each night but find that a short 10 min walk will usually let me get back into bed and get to sleep again. It's heading the right road. Will give the 175mg another couple of nights and then maybe go to 200mg to see if I can sleep the whole night through.

[LotteM in reply to Hidden]

Hi Buro, sounds good enough for now. I hope you're not suffering any side effects from the pregabalin, or, if so, only minor ones. Please do remember that pramipexole and its after effect can linger a long time and still affect your RLS symptoms. When did you finally stop the pramipexole completely? It maybe weeks, and occasionally months before the lingering symptoms settle. This may mean that now you still need a higher dose of pregabalin for (almost) full effect, but further down the road you may be able to reduce that dose again without losing effectiveness. The lowest effective dose is always the best.

[Hidden in reply to LotteM]

Completely off the Pramipexole about 6 weeks now. I have increased the Pregabalin to 225mg but still having to get up 2 to 3 times a night.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I wonder should I try taking half the dose earlier in the evening?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

After reading about it on this forum I ordered some Kratom. I must admit I had never heard of it before, so did a little research online before taking the step of ordering it. Anyway last night I took it for the first time, about 4mg, went to bed and although I woke a couple of times it was the first time in ages that I didn't have to get up to go for a walk. It's only one night but I feel so hopeful with this.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Well my sense of optimism hasn't lasted long. Now taking 275mg Pregabalin, and still walking the floors. The intermittent nights I take kratom it helps but I would be still up at least once.

I recently changed my location and doctor. He was very reluctant to prescribe me Pregabalin at first but agreed to do so until he talks to a consultant. I really don't know where I go from here.