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[CrispyChick]

Those that take it, how are you getting on???

What dose did you find helpful? This is for anxiety and mood mainly.

On paper it looks like there's a whole host of things it could help with - migraines, IBS, hot flushes etc.

I've had a few false starts - trying to make sure I tolerate before I properly get on it. But just gathering my info. 

[CLKD]

MayB put the product name into the search box?

[Kathleen]

Hello CrispyChick


I was recently prescribed Pregabalin for anxiety and mood swings. I was given 25 mg twice daily initially and then the dose was increased to 50 mg twice daily. Other than a bit of drowsiness at the beginning of the 50 mg dose I was fine with it.

The medics were confident that it would be helpful and said that it is often prescribed at much higher doses and is very safe and effective. 

To be completely honest I no longer take Pregabalin because I am convinced ( rightly or wrongly) that my mood problems are hormonal.  I am now tweaking my HRT ( again! ) and I don't want to confuse matters by including another drug in the mix.

In summary my Pregabalin experience was absolutely fine and I wouldn't rule out using it again in the future.

I hope this is helpful to you and that you find a regime that works for you.

Wishing you well and take care.

K.

[CrispyChick]

Thanks Kathleen.

Oh. My moods and anxiety are definitely hormonal - does that mean the pregabalin won't help??? I assumed, perhaps wrongly, that there can be more than one way to tackle this stuff.

I've got a heck of a lot more going on than moods and anxiety - so hoping pregabalin might help with some other stuff too.

Hormones don't like me. I'm still peri with massive fluctuations!!!

Can I ask how long the drowsiness lasted on the 50mg doses? And did you feel it helped you at all???

How did you find it to get off? So many scared stories!

[Kathleen]

Hello again CrispyChick.

The doctor I saw who prescribed Pregabalin was confident that it would help in many ways and have a calming effect. The drowsiness was manageable and only lasted for a few hours during one afternoon however the wine I had drunk at lunchtime probably contributed to that!

 I am a long way post meno with no fluctuations other than any caused by my HRT.  My mood changes ( more like mood flips actually) began in post meno and although other symptoms have been and gone this one continues to have a daily impact unfortunately.

I decided to come off Pregabalin for the time being so that I could concentrate on tweaking my HRT but I would be happy to try it again in the future.

I reduced my dose from 50 mg twice a day to once a day for about a week and then I went back to taking a 25 mg dose for another week. I didn't have any problems coming off the drug but I should say that I did this on my own without any guidance from a doctor. I felt confident to do this because I hadn't been taking Pregabalin for very long.


I know what it is like to be desperate for help and stability so I wanted to pass on my albeit very limited experience of Pregabalin.

Take care CrispyChick and sending hugs.

K.

[CrispyChick]

Thank you Kathleen. That's all very reassuring.

I understand why you would stop and try tweaking your HRT.

I am starting very very low at 25mg per day. I aim to increase by only 25mg a week. I know the dose for anxiety is recommended at 150mg, but I also see lots of titration methods online. Plus, neither me nor my GP think I'll get to 150mg. 

You're posts have been reassuring. Thank you. Ah I'll try not to drink wine when increasing 

[Kathleen]

Hello again CrispyChick


I hope Pregabalin helps, you certainly  deserve a break!

Fingers crossed and let us know how you get on.

Take care.

K.

[CrispyChick]

Sorry Kathleen. Me again.

I increased my dose to 50mg last night. Wow. Cracking sleep. But couldnt wake up and now I feel totally spaced out. Whereas 25mg was doing nothing.

Did your day of drowsiness happen for only one day when you increased the dose???

I'm not sure whether to try split dose - 25mg am/pm instead. But it was fear of drowsiness that led me to take 50mg all at night. 

Before anyone says talk to my GP. My GP has prescribed and is asking me to try titration at my own speed, in my own way, as I'm very very med sensitive. A usual dose for anxiety would be 150mg. 

[Kathleen]

Hello again CrispyChick

As I recall I was taking 50 mg of Pregabalin at breakfast and dinner.  My sleep has never been too bad and it didn't change much on this drug but the drowsiness began to appear in the afternoons after about a week.
I managed okay but then I asked my GP if I could revert to 25 mg twice daily and perhaps increase more slowly in the future.

My GP was happy for me  to experiment but she did say that I shouldn't exceed 150 mg per day without checking with her first.

It may be that you will do better on a 25 mg dose after a longer time period.  If 50 mg improved your sleep that is a good sign that it is effective however perhaps it was too much too soon.

I am sorry that I can't be more helpful and I hope you find the dose that is right for you.


Wishing you well and take care.

K.

[CrispyChick]

Thanks Kathleen. That is very helpful.

I'll revert back to 25mg in pm just now. May try a morn dose instead, but now too scared to take 25mg in AM - so might open capsules and chuck a bit out. Won't be an exact science, but I don't think it really needs to be with this.

Was 50mg AM/PM your highest dose? So 100mg?

[Kathleen]

Hello again CrispyChick.

I think experimenting with this drug seems to be okay and my GP didn't have any problems with me playing around with the doses.

Yes, 100mg was the most that I took in any one day and as I said I was asked to talk to my GP if I wanted to try 150 mg.

I was also told that many people are doing well on much higher doses of Pregabalin, numbers like 300 mg and higher were mentioned as being absolutely fine. I get the impression that there is plenty of wiggle room with this drug.

Wishing you well and please let us know how you get on.

Take care..

K.

[CrispyChick]

Oh yes, some folks take much higher doses.

But there's we go. I can't take 50mg in one sitting. Perhaps I can build up to it. It's certainly easier to play around with than antidepressants. So defo worth me keeping trying.

Thanks for the help. Xx

[Kathleen]

Hello again CrispyChick.

I agree that Pregabalin appears to be a more flexible alternative to Anti Depressants and
I wish you luck with it.

Take care.

K.

[CrispyChick]

Thanks Kathleen.

I'm just reading about gabapebtin. I know someone said it's not as strong as pregabalin. Apparently it's not as bioavailable. So might be a bit weaker and can still build up.

That might be better for me. I just tolerate nothing.  . Might ask GP in a few weeks. I'll drop back to my 25mg pregabalin and see how I feel if I add small amounts in. 

[Kathleen]

Hello again CrispyChick.


That sounds like a good plan.
My friends husband has been on Gabapentin for years, initially for nerve pain but also for anxiety issues and he is fine with it. 
Given your sensitivity, slow and steady is likely the best way to go.

Wishing you well and take care.

K.