RLS GOING DOWN ON PREGABALIN

[Maximus01]

I am now down to one 300 mg Pregabalin and my last sleep test showed that now it is moderate and does not affect sleep as much. Still have insomnia though and, this was a surprise, also have mild sleep apnea. Dr. wants to address this and I just started using something new, called exciteOSA, which is a device that stimulates the tongue, making it stronger and not falling back towards the throat. The waking up and not being able to go to sleep is a real problem now. So I hope this will work. I am hoping that eventually I will also be able to get off the Lorazepam (Ativan). Maybe switch over to something else that is easier to titrate. If anyone has any ideas, would appreciate it. Thanks.

[Meta-Anne]

Hi,

Am so pleased to hear that your restless legs have improved on the pregabelan. I have also had relief from pregabelan but I also have a heat pad (in winter) that I place under my knees and in summer have a frozen gel pad to place under knees. Both of these things also help. Whilst on pregabelan 225mg I perspire dreadfully each night. My hair in the morning is soaked as is my nighty!! Don’t know what to do and need help.

Good luck to you.

Meta-Anne

[Maximus01 in reply to Meta-Anne]

Hi Meta-Anne, thanks for your words and sharing. I actually have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, which is similar to Restless Legs, but occurs at night while one is sleeping. So one does not know that it is happening, but it affects sleep negatively. It is better now, according to a sleep study I did last August, but still taking the Pregabalin. I take it late in the afternoon. I also use heating pads and find them helpful. As to perspiring, I sometimes feel hot towards mornings. I don't know what that is. This would be a good question to ask the doctor next time during an appointment. All the best to you and healing. Maximus01

[Tanker1]

My experience is similar. I also take 300 mg of pregabalin + 0.25 mg of pramipexol. About half the nights, my legs start twitching as soon as I try to fall asleep. My sleep is impacted on the front end by PLM and on the back end by insomnia. I've pretty much exhausted all options for dealing with this stuff and its a pretty shitty way to live. I feel like my insomnia is somehow stimulant based. It feels like someone injects me with caffeine at 4:00 am after about 5 hrs of sleep. I generally get very sleepy again after being awake for 3-4 hours and often take a nap. What I don't get is that neither pregabalin or pramipexol are supposed to have insomnia as a side effect. Indeed, drowsiness is listed as a side effect-I wish. I rarely drink so I know its not alcohol and any caffeine I have is early morning. Could pregabalin and pramipexol cause insomnia?

[Maximus01 in reply to Tanker1]

Hi Tanker1, thanks for your reply. I cannot say whether Pregabalin is causing insomnia. I don't know about Pramipexol, or the combination of the two. My last sleep doctor prescribed Gabapentin (which is very similar to Pregabalin) after seeing that I had the nightly PLMD. I think he might not have prescribed it since I am suffering from insomnia as well, on top of the PLMD. I hear you loud and clear how miserable and emotionally difficult it is to live life with so little sleep. I work every day to keep my spirits up and it is not always easy. The other thing I wanted to mention, which might be interesting to know, is that during this sleep study it was also found that I have mild sleep apnea. Both the doctor and my therapist thought this was significant and I was first prescribed a CPAP. I am already anxious and just looking at the apparatus made me even more anxious. I could not use it. There are other possibilities. I am now using a device that is fairly new on the market and I am using it every day as prescribed. As to insomnia being stimulant based, I understand that perfectly since even a good/interesting conversation late in the day or evening will keep my brain busy and I have to be careful. I ask friends to not call me early evening. The mind is another thing. It just won't shut up. I do EFT tapping to calm the mind, or to deal with sleep anxiety. It does help a little. It is one of my "tools", aside from breathing exercises and autogenic relaxation exercises, I also pray. So far, God has been too busy. I still suffer, but I don't know where I would be without these exercises. I won't give up. Please hang in there and all the best.