I am editing this post as I don’t want to discourage anyone from trying Pregabalin or cause people to stop taking it if it works for you. Pregab might be just what you need but if it doesn’t work for you, then don’t sit and suffer.
I came across some, personally worrying, side effect information recently about Pregabalin. I have lived with depression for nearly 30yrs. It comes and it goes and is helped by antidepressants (I think??), counselling, CBT and a loving wife who understands from her own experience. I’m off work at the mo with depression and stress. Now, I would have said/assumed it was mainly from the job I started 8 months ago that I struggle with and dislike. This is despite favourable feedback from my bosses, colleagues and clients. The lack of sleep due to insomnia plus RLS, plus PLMD, plus Fibromyalgia must surely be a huge factor in the challenges to my mental health. I think about taking my life most days, but usually it’s enough to remind myself of what that would do to my family, and I am able to chose to get on with life. Never did I think Pregab could also stick a substantial sized oar into the mix!
In recent months, I have felt myself sinking lower more deeply than I have for a long time. I read last week that one side effect of Pregab is the risk of suicide and suicidal ideation. When I told my counsellor exactly how bad I was feeling last week, she immediately put me on a suicide prevention plan and contacted my GP surgery! I’m getting help which is going to include a medication review (with my very own GP, don’t you know!). I never realised a potential link with Pregab and suicide. I’m wondering if anyone else in this forum has experienced mental health difficulties of this kind known or suspected to have been linked to Pregabalin?
Thanks.
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I am so sorry this wasn't caught sooner. It can be a rare side effect.
If you decide to come off it 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 very few or no withdrawal effects. If you do have any, slow down even further, In very very rare cases you still might have withdrawal effects.
Hi there, I was on pregabalin for a few years with no issues at all, then I started noticing the things you mentioned and I had become extremely depressed. I did some research and found many many articles talking about very scary side effects. Especially depression and suicidal ideation and or people talking about their loved ones actually committing suicide. I am a person who if there is a side effect to be had I will have it. I don't read the side effects before I start taking any medication because I don't want any preconceived whatever I want it to know that what I'm reading about isn't just something in my head. what is curious to me is why I'm finding so many I mean there's hundreds of articles about this subject why is this just now coming to light and why did I take it for so many years with no problems. I'm going to try to put a link below to an article I found really helpful. Susan was absolutely right about withdrawing very slowly I did it very quickly cuz but what I was reading scared me and I was miserable I couldn't get a refill for about 2 weeks and it's just it's awful. I am doing tons of research on restless leg syndrome and what can be done about it but I was also taking it for chronic nerve pain so I really need to find a substitute for the pregagab. It's getting really difficult to trust the pharmaceutical industry anymore. I don't know, you take something to help something then you've got to take something to help the side effects of that something.. and why are medications seeming to change so often? nobody's talking about that or admitting it but I'm 66 years old I know my body. Anyway I hope you get some relief and big blessings to you.🌹
So that is why I cry every evening, and feel so sad! I have recentl y increased my Pregabalin to 150mg per day.
I have had severe RLS since 2019 when I was prescribed Premipexole - max dose, which was not proving effective. I suffered 2 episodes of withdrawal from this awful poison. After discovering this Forum about a year ago, it has become my support and help, so thank you for all the useful and sometimes diverse information, which highlights that what suits one of us can be of little help to another.
As a 89 year old, always fit and healthy, and having a no-nonsense attitude to life, with no previous leaning to depression, I am finding this feeling of being so sorry for myself rather confusing, but now I read that other people on Pregabalin are having these side effects, I think that I will try to roll with it, as it does help the writhing and jerking about in bed for hours, and the sleepless nights. If I find that the dose needs to be increased further, I will be aware that the depression could get worse.
My G.P. like most, needs to be educated about R.L.S. I have joined R.L.S. UK, and am taking their leaflets into the surgery when I next go in - one of the medics may read it, and realise what a debilitating condition this is and how it affects qaulity of life.
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.
If you decide not to switch or if you get depression on both, Wellbutrin and trazodone are safe anti depressants for RLS.
Hi Sue. Hope you don’t mind me coming back to you now I’ve seen a Dr, who was very helpful and attentive. He listened to what I know about RLS and treatments. His initial response was to go back on Pramipexole, until I told him ‘no.’ He then suggested Gabapentin and was happy for me to switch without weaning off Pregab. The dr I saw back in August wouldn’t issue Gaba without weaning. He apologised that I’d been given the wrong information. He said he would start me at 450mg to take in 150mg split doses. What I’ve actually got is a box of 100mg capsules with the instruction to take 300mg in 3 split doses morning, afternoon and evening. My reading and understanding from your advice is that splitting the dose at such a low level is no good for RLS & PLMD, and that I’d be better off taking all 300mg 1-2hrs before bed time. Is that correct? Thank you.🙂
P.s. I asked about substituting my Fluoxetine anti-ds with Wellbutrin, Trazadone or Bupropion but he like every other dr I asked, what not willing to go down that road.
Maximum 600mg every 2 hours, counting back from bedtime. Eg: take at 6pm/8pm/10pm.
I don’t know how much pregabalin you’re taking and I think it’s ok to just swap over (I did it the other way round) but just check your new dose of gabapentin doesn’t put you in withdrawal.
I’m really interested (and sorry) to read about your experience and can actually relate so am now thinking about this so thank you for bringing it up.
Sorry to be so late in replying. For some reason I am not getting notifications. I have notified the Help people.
If you are being switched directly you need to take six times the dose of pregabalin that you are on and I know at one time you were on 350 mg so neither of the instructions you were given would be that. Otherwise you will suffer withdrawal effects.
Doctors tell you to split the dose because gabapentin/pregabalin are used for neuropathy which happens all day and that is what is in the prescribing guidelines. It is used off label for RLS. So yes you are right. You take it all in one dose.
I'm so sorry to hear this. It is a rare side effect.Many anti depressants are RLS triggers so ensure your GP is aware of this.
Trazodone and wellbutrin are considered safe options.
What will your GP suggest now? You say you are not getting sleep due to RLS so pregabalin wasn't covering your symptoms?
To control RLS after Dopamine agonists- pregabalin and gabapentin are now first line treatment. If they fail or you have adverse side effects- opioids are next. But they too can cause depression for some.
Or anxiety/insomnia.
But it might give you sleep. And sleep will help depression.
Let us know what is suggested as your next option.
I'm sorry to hear what you're going through. It may be a rare side effect on the consumer information leaflet, but the number of people I have heard having to stop pregabalin because of depression/worsening of existing depression/ suicidal ideation would suggest otherwise. Just beware, coming off pregabalin be as bad as being on it, so withdraw even more slowly than the typically recommended timeframe.
This is a dreadful substance that needs reclassified. I was given 300mg and it took 28 weeks to taper off, the side effects were so bad I had to have support from the medical management team ,tremors,severe weight loss, drop in core body temperature, raging anxiety (I had 2 ecgs) it's tougher to withdrawal from pregablin than heroin, ..both pregablin and gabapentin impacted my mental health .
Oh no! So sorry to hear that. Sounds worse than coming off Pramipexole. Might I ask what did you do to get through withdrawal and what controls your RLS/PLMD now?
I am so sorry for that. That's why I always say to slow down and reduce more slowly if one encounters withdrawal symptoms - for that matter on any medicine.
I’m so sorry you are going through this , I also had suicidal thoughts while on pregablin , which my GP dismissed, it was on when I was referred to a psychiatrist through work , that it was realised it was the meds , I also have low mood while taking gabapentin, that was confirmed only recently when I tried Gabapentin for the second time , I was feeling more myself anxiety was under control but within 2 weeks of going back on Gabapentin my mood started to drop , fortunately I was only taking 100 and for short time , so I stopped immediately, now I feel my mental health is the best it’s been for awhile . I hope you feel better very soon x
I don’t have PLMD only RLS, I take 30mg of codeine with 2 paracetamol at 5pm then 60mg of codeine with 2 paracetamol at 9pm and again at 1am it’s not ideal ,as it’s gone 2am before I get back off to sleep and I have to get up at 6am for work , I also take large dose of magnesium around 7pm and iron supplements every other day with vit 3 and probiotics. I do not drink alcohol, I watch my sugar intake , and I know for sure cheese and icecream also triggers . I hope this helps
Yes and now at 56 starting to notice other health problems, like high sugar , high cholesterol, chest pains despite healthy eating , I’m convinced it’s sleep deprivation, and only people here on this site understand 😢
Have you come across the writings of Dr Tim Spector. He has some interesting things to say about so called healthy eating and the lies we’ve been sold by the food industry in the name of science. You’re probably on it already but it was a shocking revelation to me!
I also struggled with severe anxiety and low moods and anger when on gabapentin which I switched onto after pregabalin had done the same thing. I really worried that I was going completely insane when I was on it and my mood lifted as soon as I stopped it. I stopped cold turkey with no side effect, just an immediate lifting of the curtain. Many of my doctors are often still recommending it for my RLS and fibromyalgia as a miracle drug but I just stop them cold when I relate my previous side effects. Also, it didn't actually make my RLS any better. I am now without any anxiety or depression and taking 10 mg. of methadone for my RLS , which doesn't always completely stop it but makes it manageable. I take turmeric, probiotics, massage, occasional PRP into my back and legs, and perineural injections (like prolotherapy but targeted at nerve pathways) for my fibromyalgia, which also are not completely effective but make it manageable.
So sorry to read your experiences with Prgab and Gaba and of your ongoing health challenges. I’m shocked and sorry you have to do so much to cope with RLS. Thank you for replying.
I too have struggled with depression and am not on Pregabalin so I can’t comment on that. Along with 2 antidepressants I take Gabapentin for back pain (doesn’t work well for that) and RLS, which seems to be working well for that. (300 mg in the early evening and 300 an hour before bed). What I would strongly suggest in your case is to find a psychiatrist who is well versed in medicine as it was pretty bleak until I found the right combination. A GP just doesn’t have the appropriate training for serious depression issues. It’s a rough road and I wish you well in your journey to recovery.
I have been feeling low for some time and lately very emotional. I did not connect it to the 500mg of pregabalin that I take daily. I will bring this up when I see my new RLS specialist on 4/15. I am very concerned hearing about how hard it is to come off pregabalin, especially with how much I take and for the number of years that I have been taking it. I also take tramadol 50-75mg every night, so that may be contributing. Thank you all so much for sharing.
Oh my friend. You’re most welcome. I’m glad my story is resonating with others. My meds review is late in April. 500mg! My GP nearly had apoplexy when I told her I’d titrated myself up to 350mg to control RLS. It’s never helped with PLMD. I wish you the best with seeing your specialist.
I'm really so sorry to hear this - that sounds incredibly difficult. So glad that you have been able to speak to your counsellor and that those plans are being put in place.
I had to come off Pregablin as it caused in intrusive suicidal ideation, severe anxiety and depression - and likewise, it took some time to disentangle what was potentially me and what was potentially the medication. Tracking it back, I could see the escalation of those mental health symptoms each time I stepped up a dose.
If it would be helpful to have a read, I wrote a post about it at the time, which I think you'll find if you click on my user name.
I'm a bit of an outlier I think, as my RLS is caused by severe Long Covid, which also causes over-sensitivity to medication and side effects. Since then, I've managed my RLS by keeping my iron levels over 120 and via sleeping medication (initially zopiclone, but since last Sumer, darxident - which I much prefer) and a tens machine. Between that, they thankfully stay mild or none. But it is immensely difficult - especially as medication really is so variable in how our bodies react to it.
I did find a medication review to be very helpful though, as the GP picked up on quite a few contradictions.
Hope this is helpful in some way, and I really hope you are able to find a good way forward.
Terrible to hear that! I hope you soon can finding peace in something even if it's medication or cbt etc. I myself have never experienced that kind of hard side effects! Listen too Sue. J it is exactly what she say too avoid withdrawing side effects. Just take it slowly and always talk about your problems with a doctor.
Maybe it can be anything else think of every medication you have or have stopped using. But it's a rear side effect when it comes to pregebalin. God bless!
I'm sorry that you're having to deal with this. I too had similar trouble with Pregabalin.
In 2016, I had it prescribed for a severe case of "tennis elbow." The pain was unbearable and the pregabalin worked! I was going through some very difficult personal issues at that time, however and I found myself repeatedly thinking, "If I just took all my meds, I could go to sleep and not have to wake up and deal with this anymore."
One day after losing my job, it put me over the edge and I did it. None of us know how I survived. The doctors said it was impossible. Later, under better circumstances, while thinking through what had happened and knowing that this was NEVER something I would have considered, I realized that this was so out of character for me, I should have gone back to check the medication information sheet included when you fill the prescription at the pharmacy. Sure enough - it was listed as a possible side affect - suicidal thoughts, etc. I stopped taking it and told my doctor.
I had never had anything like that happen before or after - it was completely out of character for me, no matter how much I was struggling with anxiety or depression, which I had been for years. Since weaning off the pramipexole, I've been on 1,800 mg of gabapentin (600 mg 3x ea night 2 hrs apart). It's a pain in the butt to have to take it that way but pregabalin is not an option for me. The gabapentin has been working great after the initial side affects wore off.
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