1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Pregabalin

Posted , 4 users are following.

WalterMcDonald
WalterMcDonald

Anybody tried pregabalin for anxiety? I am thinking of asking my GP to change overt from diazepam which is now ineffective from years of usage. Pregabalin has multiple treatment range and anxiety is on the list. I have chronic severe anxiety and need something as the butterflies in my stomach and constant worry and irritability are too much. I am 45 and have it all my life. Lifelong condition. I cannot afford therapy.

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • rosemary62797
    rosemary62797 WalterMcDonald

    Posted

    dangerous, dangerous, difficult to get off,  might even make you feel worse, even after only 21 days very addictive, am like drunk andy pandy,  ,me reducing on smallest dose possible. .1 of a ml, am down to .61, the more I get down the worse I feel, seems like its killing me slowly, never known pain like this before, side effects, withdrawal are abs horrendous.  diazepam easier to withdraw from,  please be careful.xx rosie.
  • gpgp
    gpgp WalterMcDonald

    Posted

    Hi Walter, 

    I know we shouldnt rely on anecdote to decide on treatments however I know someone who had chronic anxiety and depression for over 10 years. Some clever psychiatrist added in Pregabalin and three weeks later she died, assumed suicide. On Google scholar you can find some worrying reports about the dangers of Preg.

    http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2044.2006.04913.x/full

    and

    https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0031-1271689

    so you can see for yourself.

    Have you tried CBT? Have you been on SSRIs or TCA like clomipramine?

  • deirdre._03652
    deirdre._03652 WalterMcDonald

    Posted

    Hi Walter, I have a different view on pregabalin..... as you may know it is a drug used to treat EPILEPSY......PAIN RELIEF.... GENERALIZEDANXIETY DISORDER....

    I have been on pregabalin for five years for pain relief.. I am also on other medications including sertraline for depression.. I have been on 300 mg. For five years and had absolutely no side effects whatsoever.. My Dr....( I was in the mental health system for ten yrs and sectioned four timesfor alcohol addiction ) would have not prescribed it for me if it was in. Anyway addictive.....

    My son has been on pregabalin.. 300mg, for two years specifically for asevere anxiety disorder and extreme OCD.. he also has never had any side effects whatsoever..

    Pregabalin is very widely used for pain relief ect.. I have never met any. Person yet who has had any kind of upset or problem at all....

    Talk to your doctor and ask his advice, I must add that it also helped my own stress anxiety... I am sure that they would not prescribe any drug that would be a danger to you.... far to often medications are described. As awful terrible treatment or as addictive after a small amount... your GP will be happy to help or your CPN if you are in the mental health system... I wish you good health young man, take care. Sincere regards to you...

    • WalterMcDonald
      WalterMcDonald deirdre._03652

      Posted

      Thank you Deirdre it seems like wonderful drug with many applications. Could do with losing the diazepam and trying something new. Nice to see a positive story to outweigh the naysayers. Keep an open mind and thank you for the nice comments. I only want relief from severe anxiety and if there is a drug available then why not.
    • gillian20097
      gillian20097 WalterMcDonald

      Posted

      Hi Walter.

      Ive not tried pregab.......

      I was initially given diazepam but they don't like to prescribe them for too long now a days...It doesn't matter as the dose they gave me,did nothing at all for my anxiety.

      I was then given beta blockers that stopped some of the physical symptoms of anxiety but made me feel like my mind was given a double it of anxiety.

      I was then put on Mirtazapine antidepressants and Promazine for extreme anxiety and agitation. I stayed on the Promazine for about 6 weeks. By that time the Mirtazapine had kicked in and helped great with both sleep and anxiety.

      Promazine is a antipsychotic so I was a bit frightened of it at first but it did the job it was meant to and greatly reduced my anxiety.

      There are many options that you and your GP can discuss and I think it's great that you are trying to gather the right information for yourself and also great that you are planning to come off the diazepam. I know you will be replacing it with something else but I think you already know that as far as addiction goes,diazipam is up there with the best of them. Not that I find that a issue. I don't see the problem with taking something for life if it helps.

      If you where a diabetic,they wouldn't withhold your insulin because it keeps you well would they?

      I wish you all the best xxx

  • gpgp
    gpgp WalterMcDonald

    Posted

    Dear Walter, 

    my last posting was moderated and has not get been deleted or okayed. The reason it has not been posted is that I include some links to articles published in Google Scholar...so you will have to search that for yourself for serious side effects.

    ALL medicines have effects (wanted) and potential side effects(unwanted). No one can predict for an individual read action. for example I take Amitriptylline for chronic headaches. It is a supposed to usually cause drowsiness and should be taken at night. However for me it wakes me up and makes me full of energy so I now take it in the morning. 

    As far as Pregabalin goes, it has lots of potential side effects. Google scholar shows some articles that point to a link with suicidal ideas and therefore needs close monitoring. A year ago a lady I know started taking Pregabalin prescribed by a psychiatrist and three weeks later she was found dead. coroners verdict - unknown. If you start it, and it is licences for GAD, then make sure you are seen regularly to monitor the effect.....

    hope this posting is not moderated out again! Good luck.

    • WalterMcDonald
      WalterMcDonald gpgp

      Posted

      Thank you gpgp the SSRI antidepressants have a suicide side effect. Ironic really tha a drug that is supposed to stop depressed people killing themselves makes them kill themselves. the pharmaceutical compamied knew about it for years too and denioed it, now they have a black box warning.

      Amitriptyline is an old antidepressant from the tricyclic family with various applications.

      Good luck

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.