should I go back on pregabalin?

[chl_hobbs]

Hi all. Ive had extreme anxiety for almost 2 yrs after a.small day op.went wrong and the surgeon made a huge error which almost killed me and I ended up.in intensive care. I was so.panicky and the psych put me on citalopram. 4months later was still getting bad anxiety so the gp asked me to try pregabalin. At that point i.didnt have health anxiety (its really bad now),so I started on 25mgs twice a day, and gradually increased. Think.i.got up to 150mgs a day. Initial side effects were mild euphoria, dizziness and loads of energy. It seemed ro work.for the anxiety...until 8months later when on a chest xray it mentioned mybheart was large (on the upper limits of normal). I.immediately panicked.and begged ny gp.for.an echo.of.my heart. I also.would get bad palpitations. I blamed.all this.on the pregabalin...so.stopped taking it.

Well my anxiety increased to scary levels that I had a breakdown.

The echo of my heart showed that yes,the left ventricle.is on the upper limits.but all is working ok. My gp said its fine. I didnt believe him :(

Ive come off the.citalopram (15 days ago) as it wasnt doin anything anymore,and am.experiencing horrendous.anxiety now. Im on edge all the time,lightheaded and have severe health anxiety. I need to be on something but havevtried in the past other ssris and not had good.experiences at all.

I am now thinking about pregabalin again. It DID work.to.some.extent, and quickly. Im justvscared still that:
1) it will enlarge my heart (based on the rare side effects.and me linking ut to my normal but on upper limits of normal heart)
2) that I will have an allergic reaction to it (have heard that the more u go.on meds adter being off them.this.can happen??!)
3)that because of my health anxiety, even if. I dont get these things...i will convince myself that I have them.

My gp was always baffled.that i.stopped pregabalin...but had to support me.

I dont know what to do. I just remember when.i first started it I felt so good that I was raving about it. My heart made me freak out and I blamed the drug.

Does anyone have any.advice? How safe is pregabalin?. Its.not been out long and has a HUGE list of side effects. Wil I likely just feel the same as before? Will I develop a reaction to.it???

Sorry :(

Charlotte

[SarahH]

Hi Charlotte,

If I am honest I think you should go back to your GP with a list of all your worries and concerns and talk them through with him/her. If you find this difficult then ask to see a GP in your practice who specialises in Anxiety issues.

Did you just stop taking Citalopram with no tapering of the dose? If so I would say you may be suffering form withdrawal symptoms from that.

Take care

Sarah

[Tufty]

Hi Charlotte,

If the doctors say it is safe for you to take Citalopram and Pregabalin after having those tests then take them. Rare side effects like an enlarged heart and allergic reactions are extremely rare. My family have a history of coronary problems but I choose to take drugs knowing that they may cause some rare heart conditions as I want to live my life feeling well, without depression and panic attacks.

Every drug has a huge list of side effects, I don't read them anymore, and no one knows who will be effected and how they will work on you this time. It's something you'll have to rationalise and do. I've taken lots of medication after years of not taking anything and in my experience the side effects are not harmful but unpleasant and if the side effects outweigh the benefits you stop the drug.

You say you need to be on something, which would probably help your current symptoms. Pregabalin is quick working and worked for you before so the likelihood is that it will again. Don't suffer unnecessarily. Some of what you're feeling is probably the Citalopram withdrawal and it may improve by itself. Have you had any therapy regarding your health anxiety?
Sam