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Changing over to pregabalin

Posted , 2 users are following.

Watches
Watches

Hi, I've been on 600mg of Gabapentin x3 for approx. 17mths for neuropathic pain. I found it ok thro day but ineffective at night. My GP added in amatriptyline at 5mg which I perserveered with for a month but found it really awful. Felt really spaced and disconnected. GP has now decided to try me on Pregabalin but says I should go straight onto it and just stop the Gabapentin! This was 2days ago and so far have had realty bad pain coming off 1800mgs of one tablet and replacing all that with just 75mgs of prefab x 2 daily.I understand this maybe increased but she doesn't want to see me for another month.

I'm also worried that I'm going to have withdrawal symptoms. Anyone out there ever experienced similar problem? Any advice would be appreciated.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Fanny_Jane
    Fanny_Jane

    Posted

    Hi watches, you poor thing. Although the drs will tell you that Pregabalin has fewer side effects I've yet to met someone who agrees with them!

    Usually you titrate down on the Gabapentin for a few days and then add the Pregabalin and go up again slowly until you reach the dose that you are most comfortable on. I think that some docs do this and some don't. It does sound a but unkind to go from 1800mgs to 150mgs in one go. However the dose of Pregabalin is always lower than the dose of Gabapentin anyway.

    You really need to go back or ask for a telephone consult with your doctor/practice nurse to discuss this. These are powerful drugs which affect the brain directly. Waiting a month seems a long time to me if you are not happy with how things are going.

    Most people who get on with Pregabalin (Lyrica) end up on about 400/600 a day, after titrating up from the 75mg x 2 day, which is considered the starting dose.

    Also when we change meds it usually takes a while for things to settle down.

    Good luck, hope you feel better soon and find an answer. Fanny Jane.

  • Watches
    Watches

    Posted

    Hi Fanny Jane

    Many thanks for your reply. Things have settled down in last 24hrs. Whether that's just my good luck or my GP knowing what course she needed to take for me remains to be seen. I don't feel the 75mgs is sufficient in long term but am willing to stick it out for little while longer. I accept though I will need to go back to surgery by end of month.

    I just saw the young Archer -Danielle Brown, from the Paralympics on t.v who suffers neurological pain and although

     

    I do feel a bit of a whinger.it's amazing how some people are able to deal with pain better than others. Last Sunday when I posted the message I didn't know how to get thro that night but thankfully my tablets are having some effect now.

    I will try and keep positive and hope things keep stable. Hope you are doing ok. X

  • Fanny_Jane
    Fanny_Jane

    Posted

    Hi Watches, Good to hear you are feeling a bit better. All these things take time and usually settle down in the end.We all have days when we feel it's all too much. Luckily most of us pull ourselves together and carry on!

    Thank you for asking, life is hard but I take one day at a time.

    The Para's are fantastic and help us all to feel less alone with our problems, also helps to raise the profile of all sorts of disabilities and chronic pain to the general public.

    Good luck with your surgery, do hope you have a successful outcome.

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