Query Pregabalan

[Meta-Anne]

I have been diagnosed with Functional Brain Disorder, also suffer from Diabetes 2, RLS & Fibromyalgia so pain is daily for me. I have been put on Pregabelan now at 175 my. Pain still troubling so am going to go up 25 my tomorrow and give it a week’s trial. Should a GP be authorising such increases? My brain disorder gives me strange issues ie walking backwards, starting into space and many other variables. This makes me query is it the brain disorder or the pregabalan. Thank you for reading this.

[Amrob]

Have you had any new or unusual symptoms since starting on pregabalin?

There's no problem with your GP prescribing increases provided it's within the parameters for treating pain/Fibromyalgia (assuming that's the reason you're taking pregabalin).

[Meta-Anne in reply to Amrob]

Thank you Amrod. Actually I was put on pregabalan for nerve pain and restless legs also dizzy fits.

[SueJohnson]

You should certainly be talking with your physician about your medicine.Pregabalin is normally started at 75 mg. Take it 1 to 2 hours before bedtime. It takes 3 weeks to be fully effective so really you shouldn't be increasing it before then. after that one would increase it every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you. Most of the side effects of pregabalin will disappear after a few weeks and the few that don't will usually lessen. Those that remain are usually worth it for the elimination of the RLS symptoms. If you take magnesium take it at least 3 hours before or after taking pregabalin as it will interfere with the absorption of the pregabalin. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 200 to 300 mg pregabalin daily." If you haven't had your ferritin checked, ask your doctor for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements 48 hours before the test and fast after midnight. Have your test in the morning. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your ferritin to be over 100 as improving it to that helps 60% of people with RLS and in some cases completely eliminates their RLS and you want your transferrin saturation to be between 20 and 45. If your ferritin is less than 100 or your transferrin saturation is not between 20 and 45 post back here and we can give you some advice. Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which will tell you everything you want to know including about its treatment and refer your doctor to it if needed as many doctors do not know much about RLS or are not uptodate on it Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

[jollyjune in reply to SueJohnson]

Is it a fact that coffee drinking makes RLS worse

[SueJohnson in reply to jollyjune]

Coffee and caffeine makes RLS worse for some, but for some it makes RLS better.

[Meta-Anne in reply to SueJohnson]

Sue thank you for your informative reply. Will do as suggested. RLS has been causing pain and much sleep interruption so thank you.

[NJB71]

hi Meta-Anne.. I’m sorry you’ve got so many problems. Age is a factor in prescribing pregabalin and unsteadiness is one of the side effects even causing falls in some patients, so your GP should be taking the increases very gently. I am 72 and I increased weekly till I found the right dose for my RLS to be 150 mg morning and night. But I have to say I do sometimes stumble and wobble, or “do a little dance” as my family like to say. Only you will be able to tell if the unsteadiness is worse since taking the pregabalin, and if the pain relief is worth your unsteadiness being worse.

Best of luck to you.

[Amrob in reply to NJB71]

Do you have daytime RLS which necessitates the morning dose of pregabalin? I take mine at nighttime (300mg). I couldn't imagine being on it in the daytime because of the side effects (eg drunk feeling).

[NJB71 in reply to Amrob]

Yes, I did have some daytime RLS as well, hence the morning dose. However the GP has said she’s hoping to reduce that when I’ve settled down and everything else is doing ok ie my sleep pattern, mood, back pain etc.

[SueJohnson in reply to NJB71]

If you didn't have RLS symptoms during the daytime there is no reason to take pregabalin in the morning. Doctors will prescribe it that way, because that is how it is prescribed for parkinson's. However if that is the case, don't just drop the morning dose, since you will have withdrawal symptoms. Reduce it very slowly and you won't have any.

[Fingerandus]

hi meta-anne , i must say when i took lyrica my brain was very foggy i couldnt recall many things, i knew them and i could see pictures of what i wanted to say but the words wouldnt come into my brain so i used to just give up and say i cant remember im a little better now im almost off them if i took i high dose at nite time it affected my feet so bad sometimes like a crab had grabbed my toes then they would go numb.i am going to withdraw from Sifrol now = Pramipexole another stinky drug .good luck my dear hope you are well soon xx