after gaining 3 stone in weight and finding that this is really addictive I gave it up with the help of my go. DO NOT GO COLD TURKEY IT NEARLY KILLED ME!
Anaway even doing it slowly I had the most horrendous restless body syndrome withdrawal symptoms. I got there though. Horrible drug don’t touch it
I am sorry you went through this. You probably didn't reduce slowly enough like 25 mg every 2 weeks or even more slowly if needed. Since you were on 600 mg you should have taken 48 weeks. If you had done it slowly enough you would have had NO withdrawal symptoms and the withdrawal symptoms are not an increase in RLS - that is because it was helping your RLS. The possible withdrawal symptoms are insomnia, headache, nausea, anxiety, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, pain, excessive sweating, dizziness, confusion, and palpitations .
Pregabalin is not addictive. One can become dependent on it, but that is different from being addicted.
If you are still suffering from RLS you might want to try gabapentin. Pregabalin is more likely to cause weight gain than gabapentin.. Although they are basically the same drug except you need to divide the doses, and the side effects are basically the same, some people find that the side effects that bother them on one don't bother them on the other. the beginning amount is 300 mg. It takes 3 weeks to become fully effective by which time you will have an idea whether it affects you the same way. After that increase by 100 mg every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you. If 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, 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.
What are you taking for your RLS now ?
Have you had your ferritin checked? If so, what was it? Improving your ferritin to 100 or more helps 60% of people with RLS and in some cases completely eliminates their symptoms. If not when you see your doctor ask for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements including multivitamins that have iron in them 48 hours before the test, don't eat a heavy meat meal the night before, fast after midnight and have your test in the morning before 9 am if possible. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your transferrin saturation to be over 20% but less than 45% and your ferritin to be at least 100. If they are not, post them here and we can give you some advice.
Meanwhile some things that can make RLS symptoms worse for some people are alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, carbs, foods high in sodium(salt), foods that cause inflammation, ice cream, eating late at night, estrogen including HRT, dehydration, MSG, collagen supplements, electrolyte imbalance, melatonin, eating late at night, stress and vigorous exercise.
Some things that help some people include caffeine, moderate exercise, weighted blankets, compression socks, elastic bandages, masturbation, magnesium glycinate, fennel, low oxalate diet, selenium, 5 minute shower alternating 20 seconds cold water with 10 seconds hot water finishing with hot water for another couple of minutes, hot baths, distractions, CBD, applying a topical magnesium lotion or spray, doing a magnesium salts soak, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12, D3, K2, if deficient, and potassium and copper if deficient, massage including using a massage gun, vibration devices like therapulse, using a standing desk, listening to music, meditation and yoga. Keep a food diary to see if any food make your RLS worse.
Many medicines and OTC supplements can make RLS worse. If you are taking any and you list them here, I can tell you if any make RLS symptoms worse and if so may be able to give you a safe substitute.
Pregabalin works for some, but like most drugs some can't tolerate it. It's a shame that it didn’t work for you. Some who can't take pregabalin find that they can tolerate gabapentin instead. If neither works for RLS a low dose opioid is recommended.
Youve said before that you got up to 600: were you taking 600mg/day for neuropathic pain? This is more than is generally recommended for RLS (rec max 450mg/day ).
Pregabalin has to be reduced VERY slowly. I reduced from 150mg to zero over 8/9 months with zero side effects.If you had RLS before, stopping Pregabalin quickly would cause Pregabalin withdrawals AND you would still have underlying RLS.
All RLS meds come with side effects. Most side effects tend to reduce over the first 3 months and those that remain have to be weighed up against the RLS.
What will you do now for your RLS?
I also did not tolerate Pregabalin. I went cold turkey off of it while ending Pramipexole use! Then I found out I should have reduced it gradually, oh well. But the good news is that I immediately lost the extra weight it had caused. AND I now successfully take Gabapentin for my RLS. In addition, i dont have the drug hangover into the next day that Pregabalin gave me. Don't give up, try Gabapentin. I'm at a dose of 900 mg Gabapentin plus 25 mg Tramadol, which is a very low dose.
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