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Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Not a diary as such but I just want to record my experiences with Pregabalin both as a reference for myself and any other users who are on the drug or who are thinking of maybe seeing their GP/Psychatrist with a view to taking it.
So been on it now for a couple of days on 50mg twice a day. I first should say that my GP was reluctant to give me this drug on grounds of cost and what he sees as lack of evidence that it actually works(contrary to almost every single opinion that I have gathered on NMP). Perhaps that's why he's giving me such a low dose. I am a large fellow(around 17 stone) and I doubt very much given my previous high tolerance for other types of medication, that this dose will have much of an effect on me. But we shall see.
Anyway, nothing to report as yet, don't feel a thing. I have read that some people feel an almost instant reaction after taking this drug but then I have always had a thick head!
Anxiety very high right now and I am almost crippled with inertia and really dread contact with other human beings, be it face to face or even on the phone. Christmas is not good time to have this kind of panic. Does anyone else ever feel this way.
I guess I have to wait a bit longer...
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Rob,
I'm on day 2 of Pregabalin myself - I was lucky in that I saw a keen, recently qualified GP who was a bit wet behind the ears (my normal GP wasnt available). He was doing a lot of um-ing and erring when I last went to see him, but then started printing the prescription (after a quick check of MIMS) seconds after I suggested it. I think my usual GP would have been less accomodating. Hope he doesnt get in trouble, or I have the rug pulled out from under me once these run out!
Anyway, i'm a 38yr old 14st bloke, and have been given 150g (75g twice a day). After reading about some people (mostly women I guess) starting on 50, I opened the first cap, and reduced the powder to what looked like 50 just to see what it felt like... which was nothing really. In fact, I probably felt more anxious waiting for the endless list of side-effects to start. They didnt.
Day 2, and I having had a full day of 150mg, I definately notice a difference. Anxiety is still there, but this morning, I find i'm already doing stuff that previously was a real challange. I never avoided that much stuff, but on the worst days even the simplest of every day tasks took quite a lot of psyching-up.
BTW, i'm also on sertraline 150mg having recently recently upped from 100mg which I had been on for nearly 15 years with hardly any 'blips'. Im still struggling to work out why they no longer seem to work, or whether recent events have tipped me over the edge. I wasnt keen on upping to 200mg, hence my desire to try pregabalin. Eventually, i'd like to reduce the sertraline down, or maybe stop it all together (probably take a year after all this time).
So... at the 150mg per day dose, it does appear to be doing something. Let me know how it pans out for you.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Iain,
Thanks for that. To be honest the doc I saw is ultra cautious and probably knows full well that I will feel little or no effect from 100mg a day. That way he can turn round and say, well you're not feeling any benefit, no point in taking it...or am I just being cynical?
To be honest I'm thinking of upping the dose to 150mg but then they may question why I've come back early for my prescription?
It's encouraging that you are already feeling the benefits. I don't know if the sertraline enhances the effects of the pregabalin but I am on no other medication.
Good luck and please keep me informed of your progress.
Rob.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Well, maybe you should be economical with the truth, and say something like 'Suprisingly they do appear to be having a positive effect at this low dose, but there is still a fair bit of anxiety there which would probably benefit from an increase' ??
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
I think I may just do that.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Took an extra 50mg as safe(?) experiment just to see if there was any reaction. Just a slightly naseous feeling which I've had before and a slight "racing" sensation that I have experienced before with other drugs. No fatigue though which is pleasing.
Just want to make clear that I don't recommend anyone increasing their medication without consulting their doctor first. It was just my choice to try this once but from now on I will go back to the prescribed dose...
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
I'm not sure if doing it just the once will do that much - this stuff works quickly, but.. Presumably it doesn't get cleared out of your system completely between doses, so I guess there would be a slight cumulative effect. I think I felt a positive effect after dose 3 of 75mg, but you're a bigger chap so...
If someone told me to 'be patient' a couple of days ago, I would have blown my top, so I won't do that :) ....
Still doing ok myself, but woke up with a hangover type headache this morning ... Nothing major, but hope this isn't a sign of things to come.
Anxiety levels when I started... 7/10 ... Now 4/10 (dont ask me how this scale works!)
Hang in there....
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
It's almost a negligible dose for someone of my size, I don't know even if my system is registering it in any way...I certainly feel nothing at the moment. But like you say I have to be patient and I guess I had better not experiment any further with the dosage.
I'm glad it seems to be having a benefit for you and clearly your anxiety levels are down. The hangover thing is not something I've heard of before but there's always a trade-off with all drugs I guess.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi have just been given Pregabalin by my dentist for nerve pain, But also read that it can be used for GAD. Have tried sertaline but after 2 days on that drug i had to come off due to suicidal thoughts (had a very bad reaction to it).
So hopefully pleased that this could a help with my nerve pain and anxiety.
He gave me 75mg twice aday will be starting after christmas so will be watching your thread with great interest
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Good luck with that but presumably your pregabalin will only be a short-term basis if it's been prescribed for nerve pain? On that dosage you have a head start over me on a measly 100mg!
I too had a similar reaction to a drug once which also made me feel suicidal and constantly weepy. Frightening what these chemicals can do and how different people can react in completely different ways to the same medication.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
robinbrum
Good luck with that but presumably your pregabalin will only be a short-term basis if it's been prescribed for nerve pain? On that dosage you have a head start over me on a measly 100mg!
I too had a similar reaction to a drug once which also made me feel suicidal and constantly weepy. Frightening what these chemicals can do and how different people can react in completely different ways to the same medication.
Yeah he gave me a 6 weeks course but if they work well for my anxiety levels i think my doc will let me carry on with them as they were going to put me on gabapentin (for gad).
But the dentist said that pregabalin in more stable that gabapentin.
And yes it is very frightening how different drugs effect people. I like how they say antidepressants make you worse before better:weep:
Should be make you better and better in the real world
Hope you do well on pregabalin and have a good christmas:yesyes:
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Likewise, let me know how you get on:)
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
I went shopping today and I was surprised to find myself remarkably calm by my usual hyper standards. Mind you I was only out for an hour and it was quieter than expected. Don't know if the Pregabalin might be kicking in or it's just one of my occasional good days.
Watch this space.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Been taking Pregabalin a week now at 100mg a day. Not noticed any difference whatsoever.
Disappointed but not entirely surprised. Inevitably the dose will have to be increased by the GP (however much they're against it). Tempted to do it myself but I will surely be asked questions about why I'm returning early for my prescription(although for some odd reason he gave me a 6-week supply).
Watch this space, as they say...
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
hey i ony notice any effect on my anxiety when i was increased to 600mg it heps my social anxiety, and my generaised anxiety a little less, but i still have slight panic attacks. i want to take venlafaxine but they wont et me as i have bipolar aswell.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
That seems a very high dose...I have a high tolerance and I could be on 200 mg for the rest of my life and not feel any difference. I don't know what is best for bi-polar but venlafaxine did nothing for me except knock me out.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
my mates been on 150mg 3x a day pregab for 3 yrs. he is loads better, but still not completely there. but i'd say it works for him. he has gad and depression but has never had a panic attack (I am surprised!)
anyway, best of luck. xx
ps, apparently venlafaxine is a bit of a 'stimulant' sort of anti-d so so i can see why they'd not use it for panic or bipolar, but robin, it knocks you out??? Now I AM interested!!! lol!!!!
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Hyperogi,
I will be patient with the Pregabalin because I have quite a high tolerance threshold for drugs and I know that the dose will have to be upped significantly before I start feeling any benefits.
Yes, the Venlaflaxine were more like valium for me, I was yawning all the time and generally spaced-out but not in a good way. More like dope than speed, if you want to compare it with illegal drugs and known for increasing weight as well. But people react differently to it.
We keep on trying:)
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Robinbrum,
I'm taking 600 mg pregabalin per day plus 45 mg mirtazapine per day for generalised anxiety. I've been on this dose for just over a year and its better than anything I've ever had. Anxiety is at levels I'd consider normal.
Considering your size and previous drug tolerance, I suspect you will need the maximum dose. Doctors are still a bit wary of pregabalin as its not a drug that they've prescribed in large amounts, so they adopt the cautious approach: "Start low, go slow".
I think the drug is still under patent. The price should come down when the patent expires and other companies can manufacture it.
Hang in there.
Hanshan
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
I think you are right hanshan and at the moment I have been on 200mg daily for a fortnight and have not noticed any change whatsoever. I am going to see my GP next week to review the situation and I hope he will see sense and increase the dosage significantly.
I hope the price does come down significantly because I know my practice are very cost-conscious when it comes to dishing out these drugs, as I explained in another thread http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=106105
---------- Post added at 13:23 ---------- Previous post was at 13:19 ----------
Sorry I said 200mg, that should read 100mg a day.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi All,
Well, I went to see the Dr's after xmas, and explained that I was doing better, but still had some anxiety in the mornings. He suggested upping the evening dose to 150mg, then 75mg as usual in the morning. Reason being that the morning dose only really kicks in by the afternoon.
First time I tried this, it seemed to go well, but on the second day, I felt pretty groggy in the morning, and a headache which got progressively worse through the day.
Decided last night that if I was going to up the dose I'd try it over a long weekend, or at least a time when I could work at home. So I only took 75. Today I feel like sh*t - pretty anxious and tense.
I realise now this was probably a mistake, and its too short a time to have a withdrawal - but now i've started to worry about the future and what it would be like coming off pergabalin from a higher dose.
Now, I suffer badly from tension headaches anyway (when the anxiety is high, my neck, shoulder and back muscles go into spasm, which refers to the side of my head). Also, been having poor sleep patterns over the holidays (mostly self inflicted). Oh yes, and its the first day back at work after a break! Chances are I would have been feeling like this anyway, with or without the increased dose.
So my rational side is telling me to give it a longer go, but the anxious irrational side is well, anxious :wacko:
Iain
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Iain,
Yes I see what you mean...maybe you're particularly sensitive to the drug? I seem to recall that the Pregabalin was pretty fast-acting for you and you did notice the benefits quite quickly? I think some people have reported that they have felt initially worse when the dose is increased and that it takes a bit of time to get accustomed to it and notice the benefits.
You could be right about the time of year. I definitely feel considerably more anxious and depressed than I did before the Christmas/New Year period. And that has nothing to do with the Pregabalin!
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
A lot of people say they get the stressed over christmas, so it makes sense that it must be significantly worse for the GAD sufferer. I guess it is easy to feel negative about the the whole 'event', the preparation, meeting up with family you dont really like, plus the social aspect and the pressure to enjoy yourself when you just want to hide. A new year is also a big milestone where people reflect and make plans.... I find raking over the past, and planning/organising things a great source of anxiety. Also I reckon my level is at least partially seasonal - It was the shortest day on the 21st Dec - this must only amplify the effect.
I'm still struggling today - just finished a call with a potential customer - it was a real struggle. As other people have mentioned I'm finding that i'm stumbling over words a lot, my mind goes blank so i'm unable to finish a
(ok, bad joke)
... and in the middle of one of my blanks, I suddenly found myself thinking "The guy at the other end must think i'm a right wierdo" - instead of concentrating on that elusive word! Arrrg!.
Seriously though, it feels like I have some of the old anxiety symptoms back (although slightly magnified), but leaving out the apprehension/despair side of things. So, it feels different to before, and therefore i'm perhaps irrationally blaming the pergabalin.
So, i'll try 150mg again tonight, and see if I can keep it up until at least the weekend - hopefully by then I will feel a benefit if there's going to be one.
Iain
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
I know the feeling about the blanks, I get them all the time.
I hope things settle down a bit for you now and the Pregabalin start doing the job they're supposed to.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Well, spent a couple of days feeling odd after the increase to 150mg in the evening. You hear the word 'dizzy' a lot, but its not a room-spinning type of thing - hard to describe, I felt like I could fall over pretty easily, and kind of clumsy.
Anyway, I had two days of that, but today I feel pretty damn good! Bit of background anxiety in the morning, but by mid morning that was gone.
So 75mg with breakfast, and 150mg with the evening meal. I was thinking of making it 150/150, but i'll stick with this for the time being and see how it goes.
Iain
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Iain and Rob,
Hope things are working out for you guys. I felt spacy for several weeks, but that went, along with the dry mouth. Coordination walking took longer to come under control - people watching you walk might think you've been drinking because you veer from side to side occasionally.
But I think it's been worth it. I have to stress that it's not an upper for me - it just takes away the persistent, pointless anxiety that tormented me for years.
Lyrica comes off patent in October 2013, which is the earliest date for a generic to appear. Because it is not listed as a drug for anxiety in Australia, I had to pay the full price, less a part refund from my health fund. I think the price less refund came to about $4 a day ($5 per day full price for 2 x 300 mg). It's not horrendously expensive. Most people wouldn't think twice about paying that for a coffee or a bus fare. So if you've got the money, you can tell the doctor you'll pay the full price.
Because I've been feeling better, I've gone from semi-retirement in Australia to a full-time job in Japan. I've managed to get an extended prescription for several months from my doctor in Australia, but that's running out, so I'm now going to have to try my hand with the Japanese docs. I'll keep you posted!
Hanshan
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Hanshan
Really pleased you're doing well under the Pregabalin:)
I do slightly worry about being dizzy and lacking in coordination as I am a clumsy beggar at the best of times!
As regards cost I thought you had a model similar to the British NHS in Australia - that surprises me. I would be prepared to pay if the Pregabalin works for me. I would consider it as essential as food to my well being.
But still I'd rather pay my £7.40 a month on the good old NHS!
Good luck with the new life in Japan, hope you go onwards and upwards!
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Rob,
Thanks for your best wishes. I only wish that pregabalin could help others as much as it has helped me.
The coordination thing is a problem. I still feel clumsy just walking, but I've learned some tricks. One is to walk alongside a wall with your fingers just brushing it lightly. This helps to maintain a steady balance.
As for the cost, I think you've hit the nail on the head. We'd willingly pay the price for a certain cure, but at the moment it's a bit of a lottery with mixed results.
And as for Japan, it's fantastic and a challenge. I came here as an English teacher twenty-five years ago (yes, I'm that old), and always wanted to come back, but never did. Then I saw an email at work asking if anyone wanted to go to Japan, and I jumped at it. (And I'm still trying to understand 95% of what I hear and read.)
Hanshan
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hello to you all, I've read your posts (and others regarding pregab) and am considering discussing it with my GP on Monday.
I've been back on Seroxat for nearly 7 weeks and am generally worse than before I went back on it (although its always worked quickly for me in the past).
I wonder if you could advise what SSRI's or other meds you've been on prior to pregab and how you felt on them. I know its still early days for my seroxat to be working but I'm desperate to feel better now, hate feeling worse than I did before.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hello Luaz, I have tried most of the usual SSRIs most of which had very little effect on me, either good or bad. Seroxat was very unpleasant, especially coming off it. Citalopram was the only one that benefited me but I developed too much of a tolerance for it and did not want to go on to a higher dose. It was very hard coming off that but not as bad as seroxat, if memory serves me right. Prior to Pregabalin I was on the highest dose of Venlafaxine for 5 months. It was awful, turned me into a zombie.
Pregabalin may well be my last throw of the dice. So far it has made no difference at all but I am only on 100mg a day.
I hope your GP is receptive to your ideas but don't be surprised if the issue of cost rears its ugly head at some point.
Best of luck:).
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Thanks Robin, I know the GP will probably suggest other meds before being willing to give pregab a go so I'm looking into other meds with less unpleasant side effects, such as Citalopram and Mirtazapine, but I know that everyone is different so I just have to try and brave the fears of terrible side effects.
If/when I do try something else I certainly won't put up with the any of the terrible side effects I've suffered this time even though I know I should try to stick with it to give it a chance, its just so demoralising to feel so much worse for so long.
I can cope with physical side effects, such as dizzyness, tiredness etc, its the mental side effects I can't tolerate.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Almost 3 weeks into taking Pregabalin at 100mg a day and I suddenly wake up feeling slightly nauseous and and an odd, spaced out feeling. My head is fuzzy and my speech is slightly slurred. It doesn't feel good to be honest, plus I am at work and struggling to function.
Is this normal?
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
robinbrum
Almost 3 weeks into taking Pregabalin at 100mg a day and I suddenly wake up feeling slightly nauseous and and an odd, spaced out feeling. My head is fuzzy and my speech is slightly slurred. It doesn't feel good to be honest, plus I am at work and struggling to function.
Is this normal?
Hi robinbrum, I have yet to start mine yet undecided but was looking on another forum and some of the things said on it are making me think about not using it and one or two comment relate to what you are feeling mainly that after about 4 weeks on it a few people were starting to get the feeling of being in a drunk like state.
So sounds like you could have a common side effect of it. But hopefully for you it will pass soon.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi lauz_lea,
I think all these drugs affect everyone differently, so you need to be willing to try different drugs, and different combinations. Just as importantly, you need a doctor willing to make the journey with you.
Once I tried paroxetine / seroxat. I think it was the closest thing to poison that I've taken. Within a day or two I had nausea, diarrhoea, a tremor in my jaw and anorgasmia. Needless to say, I stopped taking it, but the key point is that other people have been helped by this drug without the side effects that I had.
Pregabalin has helped me considerably. My only concern is that doctors underprescribe it, so that patients only get the side effects, and not the benefits.
Hanshan
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Hanshan, thanks for your response, funnily enough, the side effects you describe are included in the ones I suffer with this med, added to the mix are vomitting, lack of appetite and a lot of weight loss, plus the mental side effects of derealization, depersonalisation, depression and countless more, but as it has worked for me in the past, I need to keep believing it will work for me again. I have only just reached the minimum "theraputic" dose of 20mg nearly 7 weeks after starting at 10mg (I had to bite the bullet as it were), so in terms of underprescribing, I suppose I have been undermedicating, and therefore only experiencing the side effects, and as yet little of the benefits.
I'll be seeing my GP in the morning (never the best time of day for me anyway), and will discuss the alternative options I am considering, which include asking what her thought are with regards to pregab.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Lauz lea,
I hope you have a good session with your doctor.
After I stopped paroxetine, I switched to mirtazapine. The side effects for me were much less, and it helped me to sleep through the night. There are still side effects with this drug. It seems to have a dual profile of sedating at lower doses and stimulating at higher doses, so you need to get the right balance. I've made a post elsewhere on the board about restless legs, which affected me.
You don't say what your main concern is. If it's anxiety, pregabalin is worth a try.
Keep smiling,
Hanshan
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Hanshan
My main problem (I think) is anxiety, although prevously I'd always been diagnosed with depression, but I think thats because the anxiety (which I didn't understand way back all them years ago) cause me to become depressed.
My visit to the GP went well this morning and she thought there was some possible truth that by being on less than the minimum theraputic dose I was not yet feeling the full benefits, so she has signed me off for another two weeks to see how progress now that I have managed to up to 20mg of Seroxat, but if after that time I'm still not feeling any significant improvement she will change my meds, trying Cit first.
She isn't happy that I'm feeling worse, not better and doesn't want to prolong it any longer than being able to say "I gave them a chance", so lets see what the next two weeks has in store. She's signed me off again until I see her next.
She suggested Cit because its usually her first med of choice, along with Prozac (which I've tried before and didn't get on with) and has a longer half life so generally works quicker. Plus, having already overcome the worst side effects of SSRI's, I probably won't get a repeat of those first two horrendous weeks. She finds that to the patients she has prescribed Cit too, they usually work wonders and don't have to try anything else - but we're all different so I'm willing to give them a try if necessary.
We discussed pregab briefly (along with other meds), and whilst she was not completely dismissive, wants me to work through the normal/usual/traditonal meds first, which I understand and appreciate. I have to be willing to try alternatives first to see if any of them help.
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
robinbrum
Almost 3 weeks into taking Pregabalin at 100mg a day and I suddenly wake up feeling slightly nauseous and and an odd, spaced out feeling. My head is fuzzy and my speech is slightly slurred. It doesn't feel good to be honest, plus I am at work and struggling to function.
Is this normal?
I had this too, for a couple of days when I increased dose, then it passed. Suprised you should get it after several weeks of the same dose. Has anything else changed with your routine ? I've read that some people find this effect reduced if you take it on a full stomach, so i've always taken it with food.
Funnily enough, I too am feeling spaced out today, but its my fault - normally take 150 in the evening, and 75 in the morning, and it seems to be working well. However, in a rush to leave the house this morning, I took 150 by mistake. :doh: Oops. I'm supposed to be playing badminton at lunchtime (first exercise for months) - will let you know how many times I fall over !
Iain
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Iain53
... However, in a rush to leave the house this morning, I took 150 by mistake. :doh: Oops. I'm supposed to be playing badminton at lunchtime (first exercise for months) - will let you know how many times I fall over !
Well that was fine - didnt fall over once. In fact, running around the court I suprised myself in how much energy I had - I certainly expected to be in worse shape given my lack of activity during the past 3 or 4 months of 'relapse' (or whatever you call it... prolonged blip?)
Iain
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Re: Pregabalin - Waiting For Lift Off
Hi Lauz lea,
I'm glad to hear that your session with the doctor went well, even if it left you hanging a bit.
It seems that she would like to move you over to citalopram, but is willing to try some more seroxat. I really can't comment on this. I can say, however, that if neither of these work, don't give up hope, there are still mirtazapine and pregabalin to try, and they are not just "more of the same".
Mirtazapine is in the antidepressant class, but it hits some different buttons and is also good for anxiety. Pregabalin is good for anxiety, but based on the responses to this board, is life-changing for some people, and has zero effect for others. It's fairly fast acting, so you should know within a week or so (as long as your doctor prescribes a therapeutic dose - my common lament).
Keep talking on this board. It might be a long two weeks before you see your doctor again.
Hanshan
---------- Post added at 22:03 ---------- Previous post was at 21:50 ----------
Hi Iain,
You sound like you're getting better.
Congratulations. Give yourself a pat on the back (no, seriously).
Hanshan