Pregabalin, Buprenorphine question

[RiversW]

Hi all,

As many of you know I am on a 20 mg patch of Buprenorphine. I also taking 150 mg of Pregabalin nightly. Is there any reason to continue with the Pregabalin as long as I take the Buprenorphine? Does the Buprenorphine cancel out the need for the Pregabalin? The Pregabalin is not causing me any major side effects but I would like to reduce the number of medications I am taking if possible. Down the road, I would like to switch from Buprenorphine to Pregabalin, but I think that is far in the future. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Thanks Rivers.

[SueJohnson]

You can reduce the pregabalin by 25 mg every couple weeks and see. Doing it more quickly may cause withdrawal effects.

[RiversW in reply to SueJohnson]

SueJohnson, Is there a good reason for me not to ween myself off of Pregabalin at this time do you think. Thanks Rivers

[SueJohnson in reply to RiversW]

No. Just wait at each reduction and make sure your RLS doesn't get worse.

[RiversW in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you! R

[707twitcher]

Can you let me know what your timeline has been? When did you stop DAs, start pregabalin, start Buprenorphine? I'm curious because I've been off DAs and on Buprenorphine for 4 months, and I'm just starting on gabapentin in the hopes of weaning off buprenorphine.

[RiversW]

hey 707.

I have been off Neupro 9 weeks and started pregabalin before I started the withdrawal process. More than 3 months. At first I was on 100 mg but increased at my neurologist suggestion when RLS symptoms were breaking through when I had a 20 mg patch of Buprenorphine. Presently I am at 125 after starting to ween myself off of pregabalin at least until or if RLS symptoms show up again. I hope this is clear and helps Any other questions please ask. Good luck Rivers

[RiversW]

I think continuing with this thread is the right path since it relates to my previous post. Please someone let me know if I am mistaken. A follow up to my question about weening of of Pregabalin.

After a week, I came down from 150 mg to 100 mg last night. At 4 this morning both feet were on fire and woke me. Then it moved to my knees. However, I was able to get back to sleep after walking around for 20 minutes. Not bad really. I am wondering if the lower dose of Pregabalin is allowing the burning to breakthrough or if the effectiveness of my 20 mg 7day patch is really decreasing after 3 days in which case is a stronger patch the answer. I can only get the patch here in Brasil.

I will increase my Pregabalin dose to 125 mg tonight to see if that helps. If it doesn't help it is either the lower dose of Pregabalin or loss I am not getting enough Buprenorphine from the patch. If it does help, great! If not I will experiment more on the next cycle.

If anyone has any thoughts, I would love to hear them. Rivers

[SueJohnson]

To come off the pregabalin you need to do so very slowly to avoid withdrawal effects. Reduce by 25 mg every 2 weeks. If you do so you will have no withdrawal effects.

[RiversW in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue, I think I was impatient and went too fast. However, the withdrawal effects have been classic RLS symptoms. I woke from a nap today with burning and general discomfort. Similar to symptoms I felt when I first started augmenting 4 or 5 years ago. More puzzling is that I am only on the fourth day of my 7 day 20 mg Buprenorphine patch. I am wondering if the 150 mg of Pregabalin was actually helping to keep those symptoms at bay and it is a mistake to decrease the Pregabalin. What do you think? Rivers

[RiversW in reply to SueJohnson]

Perhaps I am still in the process of withdrawing from the Neupro. I have only been free 9 weeks or so. Rivers

[SueJohnson in reply to RiversW]

That's possible too. Although most people have recovered by then a lot haven't.