Switching from Pregablin to Gabapentin

[Davidbaldbloke]

Hi,

I'm thinking of changing to try gabapentin because I'm not sure if my body has got used to Pregabolin. I take 150-200mg Pregabalin 2 hours before bedtime. Sometimes it works ok and sometimes it doesn't. Been on it for a few years. I'm sure my appetite has increased a lot. My question is, how do I change? I know you multiply by 6 for gabapentin dose.

Do I just switch with the equivalent amount of Gabapentin over night or should you reduce one and increase the other over a period of time?

Thanks in advance.

[SueJohnson]

I would stay on the pregabalin and increase it by 25 mg every couple of days, but if you want to switch you can do so directly. You don't need to wean off the pregabalin. Gabapentin is taken differently than pregabalin and perhaps you already know this but in case you don't: you take it 2 hours before bedtime as you did pregabalin but since you need more than 600 mg take the extra 4 hours before bedtime as it is not as well absorbed above 600 mg. If you need more than 1200 mg, take the extra 6 hours before bedtime. If you take magnesium, even in a multivitamin, take it at least 3 hours before or after gabapentin (it is OK with pregabalin) as it interferes with the absorption of gabapentin and if you take calcium don't take it within 2 hours for the same reason

[Davidbaldbloke in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue. I also wondered whether gabapentin would mean I’m not always craving food?

[Davidbaldbloke in reply to Davidbaldbloke]

And also maybe it will work better for me?

[SueJohnson in reply to Davidbaldbloke]

Gabapentin is much less likely to than pregabalin.

[Davidbaldbloke in reply to SueJohnson]

Sorry , I didn’t understand which of the two points you’re referring to. Are you saying Gabapentin is less likely to work AND ALSO less likely to make me crave food?

[SueJohnson in reply to Davidbaldbloke]

Less likely to increase your appetite.

[Davidbaldbloke in reply to SueJohnson]

Ok thanks. So, my understanding is that both drugs are very similar as far as preventing restless legs but Gabapentin should help by reducing cravings for food.

[SueJohnson in reply to Davidbaldbloke]

Correct

[Davidbaldbloke in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you!

[Davidbaldbloke in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi Sue, I have just received my new Gabapentin now. I was on 150mg pregabalin so this equals 900mg Gabapentin. Should I take 300mg Gaba 4 hours before bed and the other 600mg 2 hours before bed? Does it matter also if with or without food? Thanks in advance.

[SueJohnson in reply to Davidbaldbloke]

Yes that is correct and it doesn't matter whether you have food at the same time or not.

[Davidbaldbloke in reply to SueJohnson]

Very helpful, thank you so much.

[davchar23]

Dear Davidbaldbloke,

You are certainly correct about the effect of pregabalin on appetite. I have put on 2-3 stones in weight over the period i have been using it for RLS relief. I am slowly reducing it (now only 75mg/day as I do not think it helps my RLS. I also found that pregabalin made me unsteady. Did you find the same?

I would be interested to know if gabapentin helps you with the food craving?

Davchar

[Davidbaldbloke in reply to davchar23]

Thanks for reply. It will be a week or so until I get Gabapentin so a few weeks away until I have some idea. Pregabalin has not made me unsteady at all. Only drawback apart from craving food is head fog for half an hour when waking up.

[davchar23 in reply to Davidbaldbloke]

Thanks reply and please post what happens after change over.

[Davidbaldbloke]

Quick update 1 week after switching to Gabapentin from Pregabolin. So far, very encouraging. on 900mg Gaba and all nights been reasonably good except one where I had indian meal in evening and have now realised that this sets off RL really badly. Will update again soon. No side effects.

[Davidbaldbloke]

Update switching from Pregabolin to Gabapentin. After 32 days, the hours of sleep have been virtually the same comparing the 32 days on Gaba versus previous 32 days on Preg. With actual RL results, I rate each night out of 3 so 3 being an awful RL night, 2 being not great but not a total disaster and 1 being mild/some RL. Gaba totalled 18 and Pregabolin totalled 26. Therefore the only conclusions so far is that Gaba has seemed to reduce the RL effect. However with Gaba, there were still 6 very bad nights over the 32 days. I promised I'd update and that is all I think I can say.