Swapping from Pregablin to Gabapentin - any advice?

[Suberino]

I recently put up my dose of Pregablin from 150mg to 200mg and it seems to have triggered really bad acid reflux. I've had no joy getting help with the acid reflux so the other option is to either bring back down the dose of Pregablin - tried that - it did help with the acid reflux but the lack of sleep became a big problem instead; or to ask to swap to Gabapentin in the hope that makes a difference. My question is whether anyone can tell me how easy a transition that will be. Do I have to plan for weeks of very little sleep while the Gabapentin kicks in? Thanks, Sue

[Joolsg]

Usually there's no need to reduce pregabalin before you switch to gabapentin as they are the same class of medicine. A straight swap at the equivalent dose should work.Alternatively you can go back to 150mg of pregabalin and increase SLOWLY by 25mg a week up to 200mg.

You could also try adding Zinc Carnosine and probiotics as they may help the acid reflux.

[Joolsg]

Just reading your previous posts. Are you still on Ropinirole or the Rotigitone patch? Dopamine agonists cause stomach issues and acid reflux is listed as a side effect.

[Suberino in reply to Joolsg]

Hello Joolsg and thank you for all your advice.

I hadn't realised that the DA can caused stomach issues (I am on a 1mg patch) I have been on that for a long time, so it seemed more obvious that the connection was with the Pregablin - especiallly as the reflux did get better when I tried going back down to 150mg. But it may be the patch too. I've not explored going up back to 200mg of the pregablin more slowly. Another option to think about.

I'm interested in the zinc carsonine suggestion and am certainly up for trying that, thanks.

I'm working on the probiotics - but it's too early to know yet if that will help as I have only just upped those.I'd put up with a little acid reflux if that all is was but it is after every meal and sometimes even after a drink. I have to be so careful how much I eat and about doing anything physical afterwards and I am losing (too much) weight as well as energy so what with being tired from lack of sleep on top of that am feeling pretty miserable about it!

It's good to hear that the swap to Gabapentin will hopefully not be too tricky if I try that.

Thanks so much, Sue

[SueJohnson]

If you switch to gabapentin, you would need 1200 mg and need to divide it into 2 doses of 600 mg each taken 2 hours apart. And as mentioned the switch is easy. I went the other way and switched from gabapentin to pregabalin. The 1st night I had restless legs on the switch, but the second night it was A-OK.

[Suberino in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks, Sue. That is all good to hear.

[dklohrey]

I have been on both gabapentin and pregabalin. I just find that I have to be very careful with my evening meal, being sure to eat moderately. If I do I avoid any type of acid reflux issue. I have been on both 1200mg of gabapentin and 300mg of pregabalin, at different times of course. I had been on ropinirole for about 20 years before augmentation started. I never had acid reflux issues with it though I did suffer from weight gain (probably due to impulse eating). I started at 1mg of ropinirole and at the end was at 3mg. Ropinirole was such a great answer for me for so many years, it has been difficult finding something as successful.

[bill54321]

Are you America300 mg CAPSULES for antiseizures, healing nerves, shingles pin . I take 2 at night with my ropinrole. British use PILLS 600Mg nd the number of pills for restless leg MUST BE DETERMINED by a neurological movement specialist, Beware....Docs have a poor understandin of this nerve inhibiting drug.