View Full Version : Pregabalin benefits (a personal opinion)
Although I have now moved onto duloxetine as my main anxiety / depression medication I just thought I'd share the benefits that I experienced, in case anyone is considering trying this pregabalin.
Obviously these are from my own personal experience, your mileage may vary :)
Benefits
- "Mild euphoria" side effect in the first few days :)
- I went from 150 - 600 mg over 4 weeks without a problem, apart from the odd double-vision and "drunk" feeling which was negated by timing the doses correctly.
- I had an eagerness to be out and about - I regained some drive and enthusiasm for the everyday things in life
- I felt very calm and content a lot of the time
- At times I felt so good I was looking at the world with "fresh eyes", enjoying my surroundings
Drawbacks
- After about 2½ months I started to get more "bad" days than good
- If I missed a dose (as it's got a short half-life) my anxiety would return very fast
- I gained 9lbs in 9 weeks (mostly fluid retention as I lost 8lbs in 10 days when I came off it)
- Complete absence of libido
The drawbacks were obviously the reason I moved on to another drug, which I'm happy with, it makes me feel OK, but pregabalin, when it worked actually made me feel good, and I miss that.
Thanks, Mark, for your post. It will definitely help someone going on the pregabalin journey.
To give some indication of how people are differently affected, I can say that pregabalin for me almost immediately cleared up most of my background anxiety, the anxiety that keeps coming back to GAD sufferers every day. Furthermore, fortunately, for me, it`s still working after around three years.
Weight gain is an issue that must be addressed - I`ve actually managed to lose weight, but only by keeping a calorie tally every day. Without that, depending simply on hunger, my weight would definitely drift up.
My libido has definitely decreased - depending on your age and personal relationships, this could be a major factor in whether pregabalin is continued.
Finally, after the short-term side-effects have cleared up, I notice a weakness in my lower legs. It may be due to pregabalin, or some other cause.
Hi guys just thought I would join in on this one if you dont mind:D
I am about 6 weeks into 400mgs a day on pregabalin. After a spell in hospital with PTSD/GAD which i have battled with for 13 yrs.
I agree with you on the libido thing. Having a VERY hi libido all my life mine is
practically non existent!!!
Although it is early days for me on this drug I find it has worked incredibally well for me. I still occasionally have to take .5mg of Lorazepam that is more to do with my extreme fear of "losing" my mind again and ending up in hospital, which is not the same as the underlying anxiety from PTSD which is now non-existent since taking pregabalin.
My other concern is that pregabalin seems to have taken the edge off my personality....my sparkle...if that makes sense. Although my Dr tells me this will return and it is too early to reduce the dose in the hope that my sparkle will return.
Having a "bouncy" personality probably was a contributary factor to my problems anyway. I seem to have a "low" mood at the moment but my HAD score shows that it is not depression and I would agree with that.
The low mood is about my concerns about the side effects of pregabablin and NOT life.
So i am not going to pass judgement until another month has passed and my recovery from the shock of a VERY sudden admission to hospital!
Hello Sarah,
Please, join this discussion. You are welcome.
Pregabalin may make you a calmer, less sparkly person - I don't know. But if it does, you can think about whether you are willing to go along with that change.
The libido problem is something else. If your libido has gone to zero - well, it's caused a couple of posters to NMP to discontinue, even when pregabalin is having beneficial effects. It's something you have to decide for yourself.
Hanshan,
I just wonder if the loss of "sparkle" is because I am low because of my worry issues about the side effects!!!! I know that all sounds stupid, but it makes sense to me :D
It's like a catch 22 situation. I am very frustrated by it, but always want to run before I can walk....patience is not one of my strong points.
As for the libido......it's not gone COMPLETELY :blush:...if you know what I mean....
That's true, sexual side effects are a real problem with most ADs and anxiety treatments drugs.
I have to buy Viagra (it's on a private prescription) to counteract the ED effect of mirtazapine - I've got no embarassment when telling you about these things, but I wouldn't mention it to my co-workers - anonymity is a fine thing :)
The duloxetine I'm on now causes delayed orgasm and painful ejaculation - you just couldn't make this stuff up :ohmy:
Anyway the Viagra costs me £23.50 for 4 (although I split them in half) so it's an expensive business.
To find a decent treatment for my anxiety I've had to make sexual and financial sacrifices, but I'm reasonably happy to do that.
Sarah, as hanshan says, after you've settled on the drug, you need to decide whether the positives gained outweigh the negatives.
For me on pregabalin it was no libido, weight gain (fluid) and memory problems. Also it just seemed to stop working as well for anxiety after a while.
Although hanshan's been on it for a while and it still benefits him. I certainly think it's one of the best GAD treatments out there.
Hi Mark, I didn't have a problem with sexual Function on Citalopram, is there viagra for women yet???:yesyes:. Weight has not been a problem so far. But yes my memory is shocking and find myself searching for words when in conversation but I am 48 so it could just be my age:).
My story is on the thread "pregabalin..at last" which I think you posted on.
I dont worry being honest about these issues either.....if it helps others then it's all good!
---------- Post added at 20:26 ---------- Previous post was at 20:23 ----------
....oh yeah and I forgot to mention (my memory again) I find it difficult to write things down....I mean pen to paper...my hand and brain wont engage together.....thank God for keyboards:D
Hi Sarah,
I understand about the libido not going completely. Mine went down a bit, but it's still there.
I haven't noticed any problems with memory or concentration. In fact, now that the anxiety has gone, I can often think more clearly. I'm in the teaching business, and I teach much better (and enjoy it more) without anxiety hovering somewhere in the background.
If you are six weeks in on 400 mg a day and it's working, it's probably worth staying on that for a couple of months and then assess how things are going. It may be possible to reduce to a lower dose with fewer side effects.
Hi Guys,
I've been on 400mg of Pregabalin for 4 months and it has been a positive experience. The benefits and drawbacks I have experienced have been nearly identical to Mark's, I could of written his myself including the reduction in effectiveness the longer I'm on it.
I have been on 500mg and reduced to 250mg believing that they had lost their efficacy but each time I reduce to under 400mg I do get a definite increase in anxiety that reduces when I increase the dose again, so they still are doing something. I am now on Mirtazapine as well which I am still getting used to but I am hoping this combination will help my anxiety and depression enough to enable me to deal with some life long self esteem issues :wacko:
I would recommend Pregabalin to anxiety sufferers, it's much easier to take than the SSRI's and not addictive like the benzos.
Sam
I don't know if this is a memory thing, but sometimes I forget to take my pregabalin/mirtazapine dose! I do notice a rise in anxiety when that happens.
This morning I woke up feeling that something was definitely amiss, when I'd been quite relaxed over the weekend. Okay, so it's Monday morning and waking up is usually my low point for the day. But then in a direct re-run of what happened to me a few weeks ago (which I posted on NMP), I went into the kitchen and saw my night-time dose, which I'd put out and forgotten to take before going to bed.
I find it takes about two hours for mirtazapine to have an effect and four hours for pregabalin. So I took my night-time dose in the morning and felt the anxiety slowly drifting away over the next few hours. The best thing is that I don't feel drugged or sedated, just anxiety-free. The worst thing is that I feel physically weaker and uncoordinated (and the lower libido).
Having tried most of the medication options for anxiety out there, this is the best thing for me by far. I know there are new anxiolytics currently in development. Maybe there will be one in the future that works well with fewer side effects, but until then ...
Mark, Tufty and Hanshan, Your post are really helpful to me so keep 'em coming please!
It's Monday morning here for me too (UK) I too have been thinking that Pregabalin is wearing off....but I dont know if that's how it works. Because I work in the mornings (until about 2pm) I have been delaying my morning dose until 11am so that the side effects dont start until 1/2 pm so I can get on with my cleaning job. But I think this is now not good for me. So I am taking it earlier today (9am) because I have been waking up with low level anxiety which I have been fighting off and sometimes taking .5mg lorazepam to stave off the creeping anxiety.
I also have a low level mood which has been creeping up on me over the last two weeks. Is that part of the early days of Pregabalin???
I am an "overanalyser" and cannot stop thinking about "how I am feeling" all the time. I can distract myself with TV, chatting to friends or a book (and NMP of course). But as soon as I am on my own I start "thinking" again, which then makes me anxious :mad:.
I am interested in Mirtazapin to help the low mood and have been reading up on it but i REALLY dont tolerate SSRI's, SNRI's or trycyclics....is Mirt different??? Should I give pregabalin longer???
Any advice welcome you guys.
Sarah
Most nights, I take my full daily dose of pregabalin and mirtazapine before bedtime. This maximises the amount in my system when I'm waking up, which, as I've said, is often my time of lowest mood and highest persistent anxiety.
My experience is that there is a four hour difference between taking pregabalin and its having an effect on anxiety (but everyone is different). If that's so, then taking pregabalin at 9.00 am will not have much effect until the early afternoon.
Mirtazapine is different, and is worth a try on that basis if other ADs haven't worked. It's also fairly easy to start up. Increased appetite and subsequent weight gain are standout side effects that bother many people, and should be monitored from commencement.
I was on Pregabalin alone for a month when I noticed my mood was low, maybe it was anyway but the anxiety was masking it, I don't know. I tried Sertraline hoping that Pregabalin would help with any nasty SSRI side effects but no they still occurred. I started Mirtazapine 5 weeks ago and it's my tenth medication (fourth in the past year) and it has been much easier than any other drug.
However, as yet it hasn't made any impact on my mood, if anything it is lower than before starting it but I am very 'reactive' to drugs and am hoping this is the storm before the sunshine kind of thing. I think if you can manage without adding another drug that would be great Sarah, working, distraction and doing some things for pleasure will help boost your mood, it's hard work but it will help improve your mood. I believe that after the crisis you have had it is normal to spend a lot of time thinking about how you feel, trying to make sense of it all and wondering if you're ever going to get back to normal. Only time will tell, you are doing great working again and hopefully the Pregabalin will do enough in minimising the anxiety so you can work on the low mood.
I find I notice the effect of Pregabalin after approximately 2 hours and take it twice during the day and 200mg with 30mg of Mirtazapine at night before bed and normally don't have any anxiety on waking - it creeps up on me in the early afternoon.
Thanks guys, really appreciate the quick replys.
Hanshan...you take ALL your daily dose in one hit?.I thought it should be taken twice or three times a day because of the short half life? How does that help you. It would be interesting to know as morning appear to be difficult for me.
Sam..you are right I should try a little longer without adding another drug, particularly as I have had TERRIBLE reactions to new drugs.
Its now 1.30pm and after taking my dose at 9am (with .5mg of Lorazepam) my anxiety has gone (for now). Have done 3 hours cleaning and felt the side effects creep in about an hour ago. I just feel abit spacey and having to concentrate hard on my typing skills. I will take my next dose at 7pm so the somnolence arrives at bed time (10.30). I still take 7.5mg of Zopliclone at night aswell.
Thank you for your support guys. It really does help:)
I think I should remember I have only been out of hospital a few weeks and be a bit kinder to myself.
The usual recommendation is for pregabalin to be taken two or three times a day to smooth out any bumps due to the short half-life (about six or seven hours).
Without medication, my anxiety and mood are often worst in the early morning, and improve during the day.
If I take the entire dose before bedtime, it means that more than half of it is working away in the early morning, even while I'm still asleep. I wake up generally without any anxiety, and I still have around half my daily dose in my system to take me through the first part of the day. As this wears off, my natural mood improvement takes over.
At least this is my theory! Kids, don't try this at home! I came to this dose through trial and error. It works for me, but any change in dose should be discussed with your doctor.
.Thanks Hanshan, I will keep that in mind.
So far today no anxiety..............:)
Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and don't want to hijack your thread, but it seems the most relevant place to post this.
I've just started Pregabalin (having tried virtually every other drug and therapy available), after five years without any medication, because of debilitating anxiety.
I just wondered if any of you had experienced the opposite effects of what Pregabalin is supposed to do? I realise it's early days for me (only the third day), but I feel very "hyper" and agitated, like I have too much energy and want to run everywhere. By the end of yesterday, I was exhausted from doing just that - and (so I'm told) talking non-stop! I feel as though I've been taking stimulants or drunk about thirty espressos. The anxiety hasn't reduced, but then I wasn't expecting it to work that quickly anyway.
(As a side note, "sleeping pills" also make me high, and always have - even as a child.)
Did anyone else find this in the early days of taking this drug?
Thanks for reading. :) x
Did anyone else find this in the early days of taking this drug?
Thanks for reading. :) x
Firstly, welcome to the forum.
Secondly, yes, I experienced what is listed as "mild euphoria" in the Pregabalin Side-Effect list. My wife found it quite scary, I felt so good I was completely hyper.
This only really lasted for a few hours per day for the first 2-3 days though, for me.
I think a lot of these side effects wear off quite quickly though.
I found the benefits of the drug settled in fully at about 4 weeks (by that time I was on 450mg - I then went to 600)
Thanks - for the welcome - and the quick reply! That's reassuring. I also have what I think are heart palpitations, and just generally can't relax. Hopefully it will wear off as quickly as it did for you. I appreciate hearing from someone who has used this long-term. :)
I can second what Mark said, I had a few hours of euphoria when I started taking Pregabalin 4 months ago, I became much more talkative. It doesn't last long before the positive effects of Pregabalin can be felt. I've tried a lot of drugs too and Pregabalin has been the best in terms of helping with anxiety.
I am interested in that you have tried lots of drugs and react adversely to sleeping tablets, I become depressed when taking most anti depressants - even when I am not depressed starting them but taking them for anxiety. My nan had the same problem with an antidepressant once and hallucinates when given any antibiotics! My daughter became manic like and hallucinated when I gave her an antihistamine once too, it must be something in our genetic make up. Thank fully Pregabalin doesn't adversely effect me :D
Thanks for your reply, Tufty. Yes, you must be right - one doctor told me that paradoxically some people feel more alert when taking drugs that are supposed to be sedating. I once overdosed on Zopiclone and the more I took, the higher I got! I've actually found the only thing that works for the anxiety is Diazepam (apparently because it acts on the gamma aminobutyric acid neurotransmitter, which controls "neuronal excitement"), but they are trying to get me onto Pregabalin as it's apparently not addictive like Diazepam.
I think some antidepressants have that effect on me too. Unfortunately, they put me on Seroxat at age thirteen, and that seemed to trigger a whole string of problems. I've never had hallucinations from antibiotics - that's very interesting! - but I did have them in a big way when taking Duloxetine and Venlafaxine. I actually only took three Duloxetine over three days and then stopped because I had a constant headache. I figured after only three days, there would be no withdrawal, but I was wrong - I actually thought there were people standing round the bed trying to kill me. It was terrifying!
Sorry for the digression. So from what you and Mark13 have said, it sounds as though it shouldn't be too long before the "mania" wears off, which is good to know!
Hi Chlorella,
The initial euphoria effect usually wears off in a few days.
Pregabalin works to slow the release of excitatory neurotransmitters, which is the opposite of benzodiazepines, which slow their uptake. In both cases, there is a calming effect, although benzodiazepines act within minutes, but pregabalin takes hours.
There are other differences, and they vary from person to person - only you can determine how it affects you over time.
Hanshan, that's really helpful - thanks. I was going to try and find out the difference in terms of how they work as Diazepam has been very effective for me, but the doctors obviously don't want people on it long-term if at all possible.
The euphoria did wear off after about 36 hours for me, and the drunk feeling after about 24. But I'm interested that you said Pregabalin starts to work in a few hours. Diazepam definitely only takes around 15 minutes for me, but this is the fourth day of Pregabalin and my anxiety is through the roof. I was awake half the night and feel very on edge. Do you think I should have noticed SOME positive effect (however small) by now?
[Someone please tell me if I should start a new thread for this rather than take over this one!]
Thanks.
..but I did have them in a big way when taking Duloxetine and Venlafaxine. I actually only took three Duloxetine over three days and then stopped because I had a constant headache. I figured after only three days, there would be no withdrawal, but I was wrong - I actually thought there were people standing round the bed trying to kill me. It was terrifying!
Oh no :ohmy:
I'm on duloxetine now - hope I never have to withdraw from it :scared15:
:)
---------- Post added at 17:23 ---------- Previous post was at 17:19 ----------
[Someone please tell me if I should start a new thread for this rather than take over this one!]
I started the thread and you're more than welcome to continue it - I did post the original comments to help and to invite other experiences.
As for the pregabalin, I was certainly up and down - the side effects kicked in very soon (the euphoria etc) but my mood was up and down. It seemed to stabilise after 4 weeks though, and that may have been due to me going up the dosages.
The only really negative SEs I had were the drunk feeling and some double vision but that only happened when I took the 2 doses too close together. 10-11 hours between fixed that for me.
Thanks for the invitation to continue the thread. :)
I hope you don't have the withdrawal I had from Duloxetine either - I wouldn't wish that on anyone. But I actually think there may have been some overlap of other drugs in my system at the time (possibly Venlafaxine?) and the combination may not have helped matters.
With regard to the Pregabalin... ahh, I feel as though I'm taking stimulants all the time - washed down with a litre of Red Bull! My resting heart rate after being in bed for half an hour last night was 90bpm and I have heart palpitations. I'm sure this is the reverse of what it's supposed to do!
I actually just spoke to my psychiatrist on the phone and he suggested that I take Diazepam at the same time as the Pregabalin to try to counterbalance the overstimulation and restlessness. And if this doesn't help over the next few days, he said we should have a rethink as it may just be that the drug doesn't suit me.
But I'm on a fairly low dose of Pregabalin (50mg x 3 a day) and a fairly high dose of Diazepam (5mg x 4 a day - it was x 3, but the psych upped it to counter the Pregabalin!), and he said he would have expected me to be asleep taking those together, but I still feel completely wired. It's very strange, but I fear I may be back to Diazepam alone until such time as they come up with something better.
Thanks so much for your input - all who have commented on this.
Ah, it could be the combination that's having that effect on you, or as you say, it may just not suit your physiology.
I was on mirtazapine as well as pregabalin and they seemed to go well together, I believe hanshan takes a similar combination, though different dosages.
Taking pregabalin for the first time shouldn't produce the kind of overstimulation you describe.
You say that you are also taking benzodiazepines at a fairly high dosage (15 mg diazepam per day). To experience the benefit of pregabalin, you will probably need to reduce this down to near zero.
Thanks, Hanshan. I started off taking Pregabalin with NO other medication at all so I would know whether it was working and so there would be no interactions. However, after the initial euphoria wore off, I was getting more and more on edge with every dose I took, to the point of being awake all night and literally unable to stay still. It was so horrible that the psychiatrist suggested I went back on Diazepam at the same time to negate the side-effects of agitation and anxiety, which I tried. But I found I needed MORE than 20mg a day of Diazepam to counteract the the "wired" feeling, whereas without Pregabalin, 10 - 15mg would have done the same job.
I also had numb hands, shaking, "restless leg" (I think they call it), and extreme anxiety. Now I haven't taken Pregabalin for over twenty-four hours, I feel a lot better, even with less Diazepam, so I'm certain the Pregabalin was making the anxiety symptoms much worse. I would describe the effects as being very similar to taking a large amount of caffeine or other stimulants.
From what I've read, this isn't usual, but then the fact that "sleeping pills" also make me hyperactive might go some way towards explaining it! Oh, well, I guess it just doesn't suit me, but it was worth trying.
It just goes to show how different people's physiology must be.
Hi Chlorella,
Sorry to hear that pregabalin didn't work for you.
Personally, as long as you are on a regular dosing pattern, and not upping the dose, I don't see anything wrong with long-term benzodiazepine use for anxiety. However, you will continue to meet with pressure to switch to another medication or form of therapy.
I agree (especially having tried practically everything else!). From what I've read/researched, benzodiazepines are not particularly dangerous until it comes to withdrawing from them, but you're right - I think the medical professionals would always rather prescribe something else if possible.
Benzodiazepines, overall, are a very safe drug. Withdrawal can be difficult but should not be dangerous if managed properly. The main danger from benzodiazepine use is accidents from operating machinery, including driving, and falls, mostly among the elderly.
There are new medications for both anxiety and depression currently undergoing clinical trials, so hopefully the next decade should bring about new treatments.
Yes, that's a good point. Fortunately, they don't seem to make me drowsy, but I'm always aware of that risk when driving whilst on medication.
The last time I took Diazepam (about five years ago), I was on 20mg for about six months, and was not fully aware of the necessity of reducing the dose gradually, so I just decided to stop taking them one day. I didn't sleep for two weeks and was constantly shaking and thinking I was going to black out, but nothing actually *happened*. Although I would NOT recommend anyone try this!
little wren
12-06-13, 07:56
Thanks Mark for the thread - really helpful, just read through all the posts here. I have been on pregabalin a few months now at 240mg a day. I find I am constantly tired. I have started exercising to combat this (and the weight gain). I just wondered if anyone else had this tiredness and if it does eventually get better?
Thanks Mark for the thread - really helpful, just read through all the posts here.
:)
Glad you've found it of use.
Mark
I just wondered if anyone else had this tiredness and if it does eventually get better?
I hope someone else can offer an answer to this for you Little Wren, as I found Pregabalin had the reverse effect and kept me awake and on edge all the time. I wish I'd been able to stick it out long enough to see if that wore off, but I've a feeling my body just couldn't tolerate it.
little wren
14-06-13, 06:53
Thanks Chlorella - I guess everyone is different.....I'm giving it another 4 weeks to see how I go....keeping my fingers crossed that either the tiredness goes or I find a daily regime for dealing with it. I hope you have found a medication that is working for you.
Well done for sticking it out; let us know how you get on. For the moment, I'm stuck with Diazepam (while they are looking for an alternative) as it's the only thing that works for me and has no significant side effects. My only concern with it, really, is that it might just eventually stop working as you develop tolerance to it.
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