Pregabalin dosage

[soupersuzy]

I was recently taking 150mg of Pregabalin in one go at night until it stopped working although my GP prescribed it as 50mg morning and 100mg at night. He has now upped it to 200mg daily but insists I take that 50mg morning dose, something to do with levels in the body that I don't really understand. At the moment it's working quite well regarding being able to sleep but taking that morning dose does leave me tired and woozy during the day, more so I think. My dilemma is would it be ok to disobey GP again and take 200mg all in one go. Seems a high dose, and must admit I'm almost waiting for it to stop working again.

[SueJohnson]

Your doctor is ignorant. There is no reason to take it in the morning unless you have symptoms during the day. Yes just take it at night, only I would increase it by only 25 mg for a couple of days to see if that is enough to control your symptoms and if not then increase to the full 200 mg, It is not a high dose. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 200 to 300 mg of pregabalin daily." Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

[Madlegs1 in reply to SueJohnson]

Fully agree.

How will he know what you are doing- unless you tell him?😝😎

[soupersuzy in reply to Madlegs1]

Exactly!! Don't intend to tell him.

[soupersuzy in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you for your advice Sue, just hope it stops at 200mg. I was really disappointed to go past 150mg as a lot of people on here seem to get by quite happily on that. I really didn't see the point of taking anything in the day as I don't get RLS then but my GP was quite insistent, talking about needing levels in the body or something. Anyway I know now that taking 200mg in one go will be no problem and that's what I'll do, thanks again.

[SueJohnson in reply to soupersuzy]

Take it all 1 to 2 hours before bedtime. No need to split it 50 - 150.

[Joolsg]

Fully agree with Sue and Madlegs, no need for daytime dose. He clearly doesn't know much about either RLS or pregabalin. What you could try is 50mg 2 hours before bed and 150mg at bedtime ( or vice versa) and just play around with the doses late evening, bedtime until you find the best option for you.

[soupersuzy in reply to Joolsg]

Thanks Joolsg I think you're right, he really knows very little, certainly about RLS. I actually had a face to face appointment with him when I first asked for Pregabalin and just got the feeling he thought I was making a fuss about nothing.Wasting his time almost.

[Joolsg in reply to soupersuzy]

That's the common response from most GPs in the UK. It's disgraceful. So sick of their ignorance and incompetence.Just print out the Mayo algorithm and the NICE guidelines and post them to him.

[soupersuzy in reply to Joolsg]

Meant to say thanks also for time tips. Still not got it quite right with that. Seem to go to sleep for about an hour then RLS wakes me for about 2 hours, then at the moment I can sleep for 7 or 8 hours, BLISS. Think I'm lucky compared to some poor people on here, hopefully it will last I really don't want to take higher dose than 200mg.

[Joolsg in reply to soupersuzy]

It takes time. Play with the dose. I think 200mg at night will make a difference.

[soupersuzy in reply to Joolsg]

Will do, thanks

[SueJohnson]

Have you had your ferritin checked?

[soupersuzy in reply to SueJohnson]

Yes a year ago and they were ok although don't know the actual number but it was at a sleep clinic.

[SueJohnson in reply to soupersuzy]

The problem with them saying it was OK is that what is OK for other people is not OK for those with RLS. It needs to be 100 or more, Is there any way you can get that number?

[soupersuzy in reply to SueJohnson]

Yes I probably could although it was done probably a year ago.

[SueJohnson in reply to soupersuzy]

It's worth trying.

[soupersuzy in reply to SueJohnson]

I agree, will try this week. Not easy to access anything in NHS!

[soupersuzy in reply to SueJohnson]

Hello Sue have managed to get my ferritin levels as at March of last year. It was 181 which I think is ok. Thx for your help.

[SueJohnson in reply to soupersuzy]

Glad you were able to get it, but in a way sorry it wasn't less than 100 because then your RLS might have been improved by getting it over 100.

[dklohrey]

I take two 150mg tablets of pregabalin about 1-2 hours before bedtime. I am still a little foggy in the morning, usually feeling almost normal around 10:00 am. A normal night of sleep for me is going to bed around 11:00, waking up around 2:00pm, awake for about the next hour, going back to sleep and waking up around 7:00. Not sure what it would be like to have a normal night's sleep. I am told I could go up to 400mg of pregabalin, but I am sure it would result in an even foggier morning. As many have suggested I would stop the 50mg dose in the morning, unless you have daytime symptoms.

[soupersuzy in reply to dklohrey]

I have just stopped taking the morning 50mg so probably a little early to tell. You do seem to be the same as me as far as having some sleep initially but then being awake for some time, although my time spans are somewhat longer. I agree would love a normal nights sleep, but better than what I used to get!

[Toast5577]

I take 450mg pregabalin at about 8:00pm. It’s not a problem.

[soupersuzy in reply to Toast5577]

Hi Toast5577 do you sleep the whole night?

[Toast5577 in reply to soupersuzy]

I do. I also take 5 mg methadone. It’s a lot of medication but it works beautifully. It’s been about 16 months so far. O

[soupersuzy in reply to Toast5577]

Pleased you've found something that works for you, well done.

[Hages]

I take 75mg pregabalin at teatime and then 2 x 75mg and 2 x 50mg tramadol at bedtime seems to work well

[SueJohnson in reply to Hages]

What time is teatime?

[Hages in reply to SueJohnson]

17:00

[SueJohnson in reply to Hages]

The normal way to take pregabalin is all in one dose 1 to 2 hours before bedtime.

[Hages in reply to SueJohnson]

Following neurologist advice and it’s working better than having 300mg in one dose at bedtime

[SueJohnson in reply to Hages]

Understood. Glad it it is working for you.

[soupersuzy in reply to Hages]

Glad you've found something that works for you, hope it continues. It's so nice to hear a success story.