pregabolin and constipation

[Flora-Rose]

I have increased the dosage of pregabolin gradually since July and am now taking 410 mg in the evening an hour or so before bedtime. I have never slept so well in my life. I can still have poor nights, but these are rare and not always due to RLS as would have been the case in the past. I used to suffer from a lot of heartburn, but that has almost disappeared. These are the positives and I willingly accept the increase in appetite. The side effect that I find annoying is the constipation!! I eat a lot of fruit and veg to no avail, and most over the counter medications say ‘do not use regularly’. Is there anyone out there who has found a healthy solution?

[SueJohnson]

For non-medicines, some suggestions are to get plenty of exercise, drink lots of fluids, prunes or prune juice, psyllium husk, Triphala - a 3 herb Ayurvedic formula, oolong tea, Smooth Move tea, magnesium, Senekot Max, Metamucil and Herb Lax. If you try magnesium don't take it within 3 hours of the pregabalin.

[Flora-Rose in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you, Sue. I have made a list of your suggestions and will see how I get on!

[ChrisColumbus]

Either magnesium oxide or magnesium citrate may help, but you may need to experiment with the quantities: there's a fine line between constipation relief and diarrhoea. I take 2x200mg tablets of MgCit, one each with separate meals as I find that for me 2 together = diarrhoea. I actually take the MgCit to control my RLS rather than for constipation, but I have comparatively mild RLS.

(Senokot Max Strength is good, but is marked here for short term use only, with a warning that over use can lead to laxative dependency. Boots have announced that it will only be available from their pharmacies in the future, but you may find it still on open shelves in some places.

My wife has found that when the above doesn't work glycerol suppositories generally do. But whether you would want to use these long term either...)

[ChrisColumbus in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Further thought: Fybogel (ispaghula husk) is recommended by the NHS for constipation. It comes in at least two flavours plus 'natural' that you mix with water: I found that I couldn't use it because all - including the supposed 'natural' - were sweetened with aspartame which triggers my RLS.

[Tildabri]

Hi, I do sympathise, having recently had a bout of constipation due to meds for back pain. This product: boutique-abbayedeseptfons.c... is a wonder, and I take a heaped teaspoon every day. I'm in France, so you may not be able to get it where you are, but you might find a product locally with a similar composition. Otherwise, chewing and crunching causes natural peristaltic action. Several times a day I eat a small bowl of nuts, cranberries, goji berries and dark chocolate. It takes a while to much and chew through it all, and I find that gets things moving too. Some fruits are also better than others for good bowel function. I find that fresh or stewed pears are very good. Hope this helps, and good luck!