Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Cold Turkey? I didn't know you could on this med do you get withdrawals?
I was thinking about stopping it tbh.
Right now it's 1am and I'm up with racing thoughts to the point I think I might be mad. Although that is my anxiety im afraid of going mad.
I have never had it bad like this before.
I understand what you mean about feelings. Sometimes I feel numb and drugged on this med.
Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Thanks for the clarification Hanshan.
A quick search turned this up http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/...olution_Lyrica which shows on 2012 that no submission was made for GAD to be part of it's licenced use in Scotland.
I'm not sure if this had changed but it would be pretty easy for the OP's GP to use this against then if it has been updated.
The odd thing is that there is some more recent evidence out there which shows otherwise, such as https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...la108wbkZbAC6Q
Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Hello Terry,
Thanks for that - I didn't know that there was any difference in the NHS according to different regions of the UK.
Trying to to switch people to gabapentin and characterizing pregabalin as a third-line drug that can only be initiated by a specialist both sound like cost-cutting to me, not good medicine.
Anyway, I think the patent on pregabalin expires in 2018, at which time cheaper generics can compete. If this brings the price down, the very same doctors who were arguing against pregabalin may suddenly turn around and start recommending it to their patients.
Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Sorry it did not work for you Dazza. Go careful if you has stopped cold turkey.
Sarah
Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
I agree Hanshan.
I remember my GP saying he couldn't prescribe medications beyond SSRI/SNRI forms so would require a psychologist which is really worthless since you have to be referred with a 12 month waiting list in my area! I find third ludicrous when in the case of a physical issues you can be referred for a medication review and handed straight back.
It seems to come down much to the GP's willingness to help.
Its a strange system because aside from the division country level, it then becomes regional in the corn of local trusts and its not uncommon to find close regions with different policies so it can be a bit of a postcode lottery for some conditions. There have been media cases in the past about the NHS saying its available but the local trust deny it. I think the trusts are very geared towards cost as I used to know a health campaigner years ago who was fighting for the rights of pensioners and he's was always bashing the local trust in the media.
Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Australia is a bit different in that we have the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) which covers the entire country without variation.
If a medication is PBS-listed for a certain condition, you pay a certain amount for a month's prescription, regardless of how expensive it is. I think it is about $5.00 (similar to US$ but going down) for a pensioner/low income earner, but around $35.00 per month for an income earner. Obviously, you don't pay that for cheaper medications. The doctor is free to prescribe what they want within the guidelines - it doesn't cost their practice anything.
There are systems and systems - the important thing is to get the right treatment for you.
Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
I'm already booking my flight! :shades::D
Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Not so fast! I don't think pregabalin is PBS-approved for GAD (again, probably cost-cutting), so people with GAD have to pay the full cost if they want it (it is approved for neuropathic pain).
Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
I asked my GP for pregabalin because I read it was good for both nerve pain and GAD. He wouldn't prescribe it but suggested Amitriptyline instead. He said they always try that one first and pregab is fourth on the list. He denied it was because of cost but rather because it's highly addictive.
Re: GP won't prescribe me pregabalin.
Well, it's highly addictive ... and look at all the awful side effects ... expensive ... no, who told you that?