Reducing pregabalin

[Memmy]

I'm down to 175mgs pregabalin. Every time I reduce I have a terrible night. I'm sure it does nothing for me and it's the tramadol that stops the feeling. But not always. I try not to take tram every day so I take 1 OTC ibobrufen and codeine +Kratom a couple of times a week. I read about the doctor in Yale doing research but is it only for men. I wake up several times in the night, do jobs have a coffee. I can't say I have pain or jerking just this horrible feeling in my leg which makes me feel quite breathless. Never two legs at a time. Mostly my left leg and sometimes the other. What on earth is this thing. I hope the research helps. How can I take cannabis without smoking it?.. Can I grind it and take it like Kratom. I can get it illegally here. My daughter is moving to California and I'm so scared I won't be able to visit her as the flight is so long and my legs will be going crazy.

[SueJohnson]

The pregabalin although you don't like the side effects obviously helped your RLS so when you reduce it your RLS symptoms get worse. You also want to go slow to avoid withdrawal effects from reducing it which can include insomnia, headache, nausea, anxiety, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, pain, excessive sweating, dizziness, confusion, and palpitations but if you go slowly you will have no withdrawal symptoms. Have you tried dipyridamole? I assume you have had your ferritin checked?

[Memmy in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks for replying. My ferritin is good and I've never had a problem with it. I have tried dipyridamole but it gave me the most awful migraines

[Hidden]

Hi Memmy

I have reduced pregabalin several times over the course of the last few years, typically by about 25mg every 10 days. I always found an immediate worsening of symptoms for a couple of days but then that would level out.

And i experienced some of the withdrawal symptoms that SueJohnson described (above) even withdrawing at that rate.

In my experience, coming off pregabalin without a viable alternative is almost impossible.

An option would be to take Tramadol every day just while you’re withdrawing from pregabalin.

Re. cannabis, some people take it in edible form such as cannabis cookies. Or you can take it in liquid form eg. CBD oil with THC. There are a number of posts on this forum about the various forms of cannabis.

[Memmy in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I'll try and get the liquid form

[WideBody]

It took me about 2 months to get off 300mg of pregabalin. I went down to 50 or 25mg capsules. I had cold sweats and uncomfortable feelings every time I reduced it. I am glad I am off of Pregabalin.

BTW, quick update on Dipyridamole. I too got the headaches, so I backed off to 225mg once a night. If I wake up before midnight, I take the 4th Dipyridamole, most nights I don't take it and I have no more headaches.

I am sorry Dipyridamole did not work for you. It is a life saver for me.

[Memmy in reply to WideBody]

So glad it's good for you. How many mgs did you start dipyridamole on. I may try again when I'm off pregabalin completely

[WideBody in reply to Memmy]

I started with 100mg... that rose to 200mg in the first month. I jumped to 300mg for about a month, but headaches started. So I dropped back to 225mg (3 * 75mg) at about 8pm on an empty stomach. Sometimes if I have trouble sleeping, I take the 4th one in the middle of the night. I think it helps.

The good news is the headaches have subsided. I don't even think about them anymore.

[Memmy in reply to WideBody]

Thanks I'll try again when I cut out the pregabalin

[Daisy2408]

Hello Memmy. I was so scared of starting any of the options for helping RLS but have found taking 2 dihydrocodeine at bedtime and another one in the night is a great help. The trick is getting the g p to prescribe it!

[Memmy in reply to Daisy2408]

Yes but doesn't it cause constipation

[Daisy2408]

I find no problem with that number.

[Memmy in reply to Daisy2408]

How many mgs is each dihydrocodeine

[Canterberry]

The Dr at Yale. Mr Koo sees all RLS people not just men. I have appt.at end of July.

[Hidden in reply to Canterberry]

Hi Canterberry, may I ask which vaccine made your RLS worse?

[Canterberry in reply to Hidden]

Phizer. I never had it before I got the vaccine. I also got Mono after the vaccine. Who gets Mino at 72years old!

[Hidden in reply to Canterberry]

Yes, that is a possibility with several types of vaccines. Most recently I read Shingrix. The vaccines don’t give you the virus that causes Mono but they give you the same set of symptoms such as chronic fatigue. It’s more common when you get Covid itself. Then you end up with what is called “long haulers syndrome.” Or you can die from Covid as well.

[Canterberry in reply to Hidden]

I had no symptoms from Mono It just showed up on blood work. I believe the vaccine activated Epstein Barr which some many of us carry in our bodies.

[Hidden in reply to Canterberry]

No symptoms? So the only thing the vaccine did was worsen your RLS in terms of symptoms?

[Canterberry in reply to Hidden]

Yes, and the activation of the Epstein Barr most likely caused it.

[Daisy2408]

30mg