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Pregabalin (Lyrica) - First few days amazing, but then...

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fretman
fretman

I've had generalised anxiety disorder and generalised social anxiety disorder for over 10 years. I was recently prescribed 25mg Pregabalin b.d. by a locum g.p.

Discovering online that it was an unusually low dose (my real gp later agreed that it should have been higher), I took a bit more. Around 100mg. The first few days were a miracle, almost no anxiety, plus some mild euphoria. But a week later and it's nothing like before. Most of my anxiety is back, except for a few hours a day when I feel better.

There is still less anxiety in general, which I'm grateful for, but having glimpsed life without any of this anxiety, I'm eager to get back to that. 

I'm currently on 150mg b.d. Why has the effect deteriorated? Might I need a much higher dose next time I see my doctor, to get back to the initial reaction?

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • malcolm47
    malcolm47 fretman

    Posted

    Hi mate,

    take it from me you should be on at least 300mg per day to have the stabilising effect it offers,i am on 600mg and alright I have a bad day or two,no tablet will make you feel perfectly well all the time,it's like any drug that's good,once your body gets use to the higher dosage it then requires more in time.

    Also I ensure I always take my last one just before bed,then overnight it gets to work.

    Hope this helps,and I wish yoiu well.

    Regards Malc

    • fretman
      fretman malcolm47

      Posted

      Hi malcolm47,

      Thanks for the info. I'll ask my doc whether I can try a higher dose. 

      Before bed, you say? Maybe I'm wrong about when the effects of pregabalin are strongest. I thought most of the effects happen a few hours after taking it. If you take it before bed, won't you be asleep during the time it's doing its work?

  • malcolm10438
    malcolm10438 fretman

    Posted

    hi.  I have just read up on GAD and feel that this is something I have been suffering with for most of my life (i am 39).  I have been on all sorts of tablets over the years, have attended cbt but nothing has worked.  I feel that i need to go back to the drs and tell them that this is what i am suffering from and know that i probably need to go back on some sort of medication but I am the carer of 2 small children and cannot take medication that makes me in any way drowsy or spaced out. Can you advise if the stuff you guys are on causes these side effects.  My wife is on citalopram for depression and thinks i should try this as it does not make her drowsy.  Please advise.  thanks in advance 
    • fretman
      fretman malcolm10438

      Posted

      Hi malcolm10438,

      Obviously I'm not an expert on pregabalin but it has often made me drowsy, dizzy and almost feeling 'drunk;. It wasn't debilitating, but it was a noticeable effect.

    • malcolm10438
      malcolm10438 fretman

      Posted

      thanks for that.  I am seeing the dr on friday morning and hopefully they will be able to help.  i have been on trazodone before now but that made me very drowsy- my speech would slur and i couldnt function- not the kind of medication i can take whilst looking after children- even if i take it at night, i couldnt get up for my 1 year old if he needs me.
  • malcolm47
    malcolm47 fretman

    Posted

    Hi man,

    Yes rather odd,but doctor's orders when I was first dispensed the 100mg capsule of which I had two per day,he said one after food in morning and one to be taken about an hour before bed,but I never get off to sleep before 2-3 o'clock,so it's still working for me.

    I never really had this dizziness with these,although on one occasion i took 600mg with alcohol and ended up with double vision,but felt wonderful.

    i have also taken 900mg in one day,feeling low and wanted out of it all,but ended up totally 'cocooned' and imperturable,a good drug,but to start with you must be careful,I reckon you should take 200mg in the morning and another 200mg early evening to sort you out,worth a try anyway.

    Let me know how you get on,I wish you well!

    regards Malc

     

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