Pregabalin Disaster

[Rwall]

I was so hopeful about the Pregabalin, as I wasn't sure the Neurontin was working anymore. Took 1 capsule and had the worst RLS with loads of pins and needles instead of the crawling feeling. It lasted 14 hours, until I took my usual Neurontin the next evening. Has anyone had this experience and does it take time to work? I am now afraid to even try it again.

[Bumble34]

It is thought to take several weeks to become effective, I started with Pregabalin some time ago after augmenting on Ropinirole, very gradually working up to 125mg (5 capsules) its not perfect but it does help, and absolutely no side effects. I`m sorry to hear of your experience could just be a glitch, I think probably you should try again, good luck.

[Parminter in reply to Bumble34]

How long have you been on 125 grams, Bumble?

[Sampsie]

Hi Rwall, sorry to hear that. You get your hopes up about trying a new drug and it's really hard when it doesn't work.

I didn't have that reaction. Was there anything else that day/night that might have caused a reaction? How much did you take? I wonder if it was that you took a low dose as you need to introduce and increase the drug slowly, and that dose wasn't enough for the RLS?

[Rwall in reply to Sampsie]

I don't believe so, as I was still taking all but one cap. of the full dose of Neurontin and simply introduced the Pregabalin, in hopes of eventually eliminating the Neurontin altogether. The Pregabalin, lowest dose, definitely had a negative effect, as far as I can tell. Just so frustrating!

[Sampsie in reply to Rwall]

Rwall did you add Pregabalin to the Neurotin? If so, I think it would make you feel ill. You either, as far as I was instructed, wean off one then build up on the other, or stop one and swap to the other. If the former, you can start taking the Pregabalin at a reduced dose but only once you have reduced the Neurotin. Then build up the Pregabalin I did it that way. But I was told you can so a straight swap.

But I don't think it is good to add Pregabalin to your existing full dose of Neurotin.

[joebeddall]

I took pregabalin for about 2yrs. with good results.It has now over a few months ceased to give me the same comfort,I am now trying different things.This page is quite good for keeping up to date.Good luck with your prob.

[Amrob]

What dose did you take? I.e how many mg? I have taken Lyrica for years and it controls my symptoms well (but at a high dose comes with problematic side effects)

[Rwall in reply to Amrob]

It was the very lowest dose available... sadly.

[Joolsg in reply to Rwall]

25mg of pregabalin? Did you take the Neurontin as well or just the 25mg of pregabalin?

[Joolsg]

Why are you taking 2 alpha2delta ligands? Pregabalin & Gabapentin ( Neurontin) are very similar drugs but pregabalin is absorbed more easily so usually ( but not always) has fewer side effects.

Average dose of Neurontin is 900mg, of pregabalin is 150mg.

By taking both together you double the risk of side effects. Or did you take one pill of pregabalin in place of Neurontin?

You can do a straight swap of equivalent dose. What dose of Neurontin were you taking and what dose of pregabalin did you take?

The side effects of both drugs are similar but I found side effects from Gabapentin (Neurontin) much worse.

[Rwall in reply to Joolsg]

I took 1200 mg Neurontin (normally I take 1500) - 1 Neurontin at 9 pm and the Pregabalin 25 mg. , then 3 Neurontin at 11:30 pm . I have never had any side effects to the Neurontin, so I can only assume it was the Pregabalin. It was quite a severe reaction. The doctor said to lower the dose of Neurontin gradually, while getting on the Pregabalin gradually. It was awful.

[Joolsg in reply to Rwall]

So you dropped 300mg of Gabapentin overnight & replaced with 25mg of pregabalin?

There’s no need to reduce Gabapentin slowly as pregabalin is a similar med & you can make a straight swap as long as the dose is equivalent.

I would speak to your doctor and ask for the equivalent dose of pregabalin. 1500mg of Gabapentin is equivalent to 225mg of pregabalin. So 300mg Gabapentin is equivalent to 45mg of pregabalin.

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

However, if the Gabapentin was working , why switch?

I hope you sort it out.

[Amrob]

If you only took 25mg of pregabalin, it sounds like you didn't have coverage for that evening. It doesn't mean the pregabalin doesn't work, it may be that you weren't taking enough. 25mg is a very low dose and well below what most people need to get relief.