Pregabalin and REM/Deep Sleep

[Ganadaramabasa]

Hi, I am taking Pregabalin for my PLMD. I do not have RLS so I only take Pregabalin before my sleep.

With Pregabalin, I can sleep, but when I check my sleep tracking app, I have very low, sometimes no Deep and REM sleep.

Does anybody have any advice in increasing Deep and REM sleep?

Also, how does Pregabalin help with PLMD? Does it reduce PLMS movements or does it tell the body/brain to ignore being awakened by PLMS movements?

Thank you

[Munroist]

I can’t answer the question authoritatively but pregabalin seems to operate by damping down neuro transmission (my words). The Wikipedia article is quite readable

Regarding sleep, Wikipedia says:

“unlike benzodiazepines, it has a beneficial effect on sleep and sleep architecture, characterized by the enhancement of slow-wave sleep”

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre...

The UK NHS says:

Pregabalin works in different ways:

in epilepsy it stops seizures by reducing the abnormal electrical activity in the brain

with nerve pain it blocks pain by affecting the pain messages travelling through the brain and down the spine

in anxiety it stops your brain from releasing the chemicals that make you feel anxious

nhs.uk/medicines/pregabalin...

[DicCarlson]

Well - a lot of sleep trackers will give you a read out of light, REM, and Deep sleep. Lately I have been listening to some "new age" music designed to increase deep sleep. Last 2 nights I had a good pulse of deep sleep on my sleep tracker after listen to this music - for only 5 minutes or so (with ear buds, in bed). I need to try it for longer prior to getting in bed. I think this is available on Amazon. Also lots of free music on YouTube - search for aplha wave or brain entrainment.

stevenhalpernmusic.com/prod...

[Hidden]

My understanding is that pregabalin is intended to stop or at least reduce limb movement. That's not to say it doesn't have an effect on sleep, as it can help promote sleep onset and possibly sleep maintenance. Pregabalin does not work in the same way as say benzodiazepines, which help you sleep despite the limb movements.

[CsiguZ]

In my case it’s the opposite, since I started pregabalin, I have more deep sleeps based on the Apple Watch I use to track my sleep. I have both RLS and PLMD.