Pregabalin Overload!

[MumofSam]

Just started a new prescription of the above two days ago. I noticed I struggled to get up yesterday and felt a little “drugged” and today the feeling is even worse, with brain fog as well, and I just want to sleep. I remembered feeling like this for a while when I went back on Pregabalin, before it wore off. So, thought I’d take a look at at this new box of Pregabalin to see what was different about it.

Found the difference! The capsules are each 150mg and I’m supposed to be taking 50mg capsules, so instead of taking 100mg of Pregabalin a day I’ve been taking three times that dose for the last two days. No wonder I’ve been feeling like this! And no wonder I’ve not been bothered by RLS at all and have slept well.

I’ve got a new prescription at the pharmacy to pick up (I’m a prescription ahead as I already had some and reorder just as I’m about to start the last box) and I’m sure the pharmacy won’t have made the same mistake.

It’s confirmed for me that I definitely needed a higher dose of Pregabalin, though think 300mg a day might be too high?

Is anyone else on a high dose of Pregabalin? I know the sleepiness and brain fog would wear off, but do the RLS symptoms stay under control or creep back?

[Pindarinda]

Hi MumofSam,For thee years i use 300 mg pregabaline 2 hours before bedtime, with permission to swallow 1 extra capsule of 50 mg in case the rls returns during the night. In my case the rls is well under controle. I seldom need to swallow the extra capsule of 50 mg. 300 mg is sufficient. Feeling sleepy disappeared within a week. I am a happy user the pregabaline!

[Hidden]

Hi, yes have been on 300mg of pregabalin for several years. I find this dose keeps my PLMD at bay although do find the side effects problematic (tired during day, brain fog, memory problems etc). That said, I am grateful for the sleep I get on pregabalin.

[martino]

I take 300 mg twice a day in part to help with neuropathic pain. I do suffer with brain fog and have thought that a switch to buprenonorphine or methadone might help. I will have a chat to the neurologist about this

[Hidden in reply to martino]

Hi Martino, just wishing to share my experience of trying to switch from pregabalin to opioids.I have tried buprenorphine, oxycodone/naloxone, codeine and Tramadol, all while taking pregabalin. I found I suffer quite an extreme response to the opioids, eg. insomnia, nausea etc. I have since read that pregabalin potentiates opioids meaning that it heightens the effects of opioids, both good and bad. So while I had written off opioids, I'm thinking that it may have been the combination of opioids with pregabalin that was the problem.

Next time I try opioids, I'll do it when I'm either off pregabalin or taking a very low dose.

[dickJones]

Lying awake after a single PLMD event lasted for 2 hours. Couldn't walk it off in 10/20 minutes as usual. And I've been on 450 mg for 1 year. So, yes, it can wear off eventually!

[RLSofManyYears]

Hi, I've been on 300mg for several years now. I was initially given it by the neurologist to help with the effects of augmentation (although I didn't know about augmentation then and I'm not sure he did either). I know that when I try to reduce the dosage then my symptoms get worse. I went on to Temgesic last November and it stopped my symptoms dead for several months. However they gradually returned and so I've currently moved back on to ropinirole for a short while (about a month I think) before switching back to Temgesic. Once the RLS/PLMD has settled down then I'm going to start reducing the Pregabalin by 25mg per week or two. I've already got what I need. I think it is a "see how it goes" scenario then main aim being to keep meds to a minimum whilst ensuring a decent nights sleep. The lack of sleep is just so debilitating.