Pregabalin

[Hoochybaby]

I take 250 mg Pregabalin at night and 60 mg codeine I can just about manage my rls although I never get any sleep with them unti the early hours of the morning and then the sleep is very fragmented but what worries me most is my very bad balance which I put down to the Pregabalin I’m frightened of falling down the stairs and when I walk my dog down the street I wonder if people think I’m drunk!! I have to watch my feet rather than people because I think I will fall

Is this I by product of the Pregabalin do others have the same problem and is there anything to be done for it? I’m in my 80s and live alone and if I fell I could be on my own until found hence the need for help I have broached the subject with my go ( although no forcible) and he didn’t seem interested any info would be appreciated

[SueJohnson]

Pregabalin can definitely cause dizziness but at least with me it gets better after I have my coffee which I have immediately when I get up and wears off completely perhaps an hour after that. (I am 82) One thing I do is use the wall for support and grab on to the edge of the casing around doors as I go and of course hold on to the banister when going down stairs. I believe I suggested to you a few months ago when you brought this up that you might want to switch to gabapentin as some people find that the side effects that bother them on one don't bother them on the other. You can switch directly to 1500 mg. You would take 600 mg 1 to 2 hours before bed, then 600 mg 4 hours before bedtime as it is not as well absorbed above 600 mg and finally 300 mg 6 hours before bedtime. If you take magnesium don't take it within 3 hours of the gabapentin as it reduces the absorption of the gabapentin. If you take calcium don't take it within 2 hours for the same reason.

If you think the pregabalin is helping you and you want to stay on it you could always get 2 walkers. One for upstairs and one for downstairs and outside. No fun I know but it will keep you from falling.

The other possibility is to come off the pregabalin and move to a stronger opioid like buprenorphine. If you do decide to come off it do so slowly like 25 mg every 2 weeks to avoid withdrawal effects.

[Hoochybaby in reply to SueJohnson]

thanks sue from what I remember I started off on gabapentin some years ago and it didn’t agree with me I can’t remember what the side effects where but my neurologist at the Time switched me to pregabalin

I haven’t really given magnesium a good try maybe it would be worthwhile

One thing I didn’t mention was zopiclone I do take a 3 .75 mg when needed and I do think it helps me but of course one has to be careful with addiction

[SueJohnson in reply to Hoochybaby]

It's possible that the side effects you had weren't as bad as the dizziness. You could always try it for a day or 2 and switch back again if they were.

[SomersetLily]

Hi

I'm not sure I can help with this, my situation is rather different. I have been managing my RLS through Iron supplements and Mg, and until my recent hip operation I have not taken any drugs. Preop I was taking 8mg of Codeine, post op I was taking 30mg CoCodomol, and now I'm taking no codeine at all, just vitamins. Good luck with yours

Best wishes

[Hidden]

Pregabalin does cause balance issues, particularly among older people. Personally i don't find it too bad until about 4 hours after i've taken it by which time i'm ready for bed. I wouldn't be inclined to leave the house after taking it either (which curtails my social life somewhat). Is it possible to walk your dog before you take it?

If you're living alone and the loss of balance is concerning for you, it might be worthwhile trying another medication. Would you doctor agree to a higher dose of codeine?

That said, i'm wondering whether the codeine might be causing your insomnia. Opioids give me insomnia whereas pregabalin (in the early years of taking it especially) is sleep-inducing.