Pregabalin

[Firenze1]

So, been taking Pregabalin for a few months now. Mostly successful at 250mg per day. Occasionally restless evenings but reluctant to increase dose just yet. My experience is positive on the whole. I have noticed blurred vision and know that this is a side-effect - should I be concerned? Should I get eyes tested? I thought it may be something that would 'go away' but it seems not. As always, any advice appreciated!

[SueJohnson]

No point in getting your eyes checked as you know the cause. I remember you were on gabapentin before. Why did you switch? Did you have blurred vision on it?

[Firenze1 in reply to SueJohnson]

No, I was on Ropinirole before.

[SueJohnson in reply to Firenze1]

Then you might want to try switching to 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. Multiply the pregabalin amount by 6 to get the correct dose. 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.

[Firenze1 in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue. Will have to think about this bearing in mind trying to have any contact with GP these days!! Other than the vision issues it's been an amazing result as regards coming off Ropinirole. I don't take magnesium. Tried increasing my iron but that didn't agree with me !! I'm just concerned about the vision but can probably live with it as long as it doesn't get any worse

[Firenze1 in reply to SueJohnson]

That's interesting. Thanks. Something to think about!

[Carolinetidy]

I have been taking pregabalin for nearly two years now, starting at 150mg and increasing every 3 - 4 months until I was taking 300 mg but I have over the last three weeks decreased to 200mg as I felt it was having no effect on my restless legs and I was surprised to find that my restless legs are considerably better. Does anyone know whether augmentation is a thing with pregabalin? I was under the impression that it was only the pramipexole type drugs which cause that. I weaned myself off of pramipexole two years ago now. I just wish there was some drug which eradicates this awful condition.

[SueJohnson in reply to Carolinetidy]

Yes but it is very rare.

[Firenze1 in reply to Carolinetidy]

How are things now? I also wondered if augmentation was a thing with Pregabalin. I'm fairly new to taking it and mostly it's working, thank goodness. However I am starting to increase the dose now. Wouldn't it be great if there was a drug where we could take it and not have the worry that it might not work? ?

[Carolinetidy in reply to Firenze1]

Apparently augmentation does not happen with pregabalin. Things at the moment are mostly okay but I find that my restless legs comes in bouts, lasting about two weeks at a time with very little sleep but I am fortunate that things always, touch wood, go back to being bearable, but I know I shouldn’t complain when there are people who get it day and night. Remind me again what dose are you on at the moment?

[Firenze1 in reply to Carolinetidy]

Thanks. That's good to know. I'm taking 250/275mg per evening. I think you can take up to 400mg but that's a long way off hopefully. You're doing well, as you say. I know some people have it far worse than me