Another Pregabalin Diary.....

[Scratchappy]

Hello.

Am new to this site but thought, like other posters, that I'd also write a diary of my experience on pregabalin in the hope it may be of some use to others. The first thing to report with this medication is that I found the name difficult to pronounce and even harder to spell correctly

Anyway, I'll try and give you a bit about my background and where I'm at right now:

Well, I have been trying to live with the following conditions for almost 20 years (am now 35):

GAD - Generalised Anxiety Disorder
SA - Social Anxiety (to the extreme and my main issue)
HPPD - Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptive Disorder (visual disturbances caused by me being an idiot and taking too much LSD way back when)
Hyperhidrosis - extreme facial sweating (mmm, lovely condition)


I've been on so many anti-depressants over the years it's hard to keep track but none have really helped with anxiety that much. In fact, they've done relatively little.
Because I found the anti-depressants to be so ineffective, I literally pleaded with my doctor to put me on diazepam. And I've been on the stuff for about 10 years now. Although it helped me to lead a 'normal' life of sorts for a while, I can't continue with it as I want to sort my life out and deal with my issues properly. So have been on a reduction plan and hope to be off of it completely fairly soon (esp. if the pregabalin helps). Was on 20MG diazepam, now on 6MG a day. I sometimes use propranolol but find that it doesn't do to much for me.

I've also self-medicated a lot over the years and misused a number of substances as well to try and deal with my issues. I know, they're bad coping techniques and the wrong ones too. I found that a combination of diazepam and a hell of lot of cannabis was the only way I could get through and exist in life at times. But inevitably, the problems were only hidden and subdued, waiting to come to the surface and send my life into free fall. Again.

At the moment, my anxiety levels are extremely high due to where I am with life, nevermind having to deal with my SA, GAD and everything else. I've just come out of a 6 year relationship and am looking at having to sell my property. I've also started a new job but after 6 weeks have had to go on sick leave due to not being able to cope with life.
All in all, I'm not in a good place right now. I am trying to turn my life around with better coping strategies such as CBT + exercise + relaxation techniques + medication. If that doesn't work, well, I'm probably screwed.....

Asleep? No? Bored? Quite probably. Ok, here's the diary part in the next post then.........:

*Please note that I am initially taking the pregabalin with diazepam. And have read that the pregabalin can enhance the effects of a benzodiazepine when combined together*

---------- Post added at 19:31 ---------- Previous post was at 19:29 ----------

Day One

Dosage: 2 x 50MG daily

1st dose 50MG (taken on an empty stomach):

Effect: No changes at all. Disappointed but not unexpected. Patience.....

Side effects: None

Note: Had already taken 40MG propranolol and 4MG diazepam in the morning 5 hours before dose of pregabalin.


2nd dose 50MG (taken on a stomach full of...........tomato soup):

Effect: Hmmmmmmmmmm. My mood seems to be up slightly, for no apparent reason. Am even singing to myself. Feeling more focused and seem able to concentrate better. Slightly stimulated. Odd. Really odd.
Very, very subtle but it could be the medication kicking in. Unsure. Feeling quite relaxed though. And whereas before I'd think quite a lot about attempting to do something, even a simple task, I just find that I am doing it. If that makes sense....
Could be the medication. Could have been the tomato soup....

Side effects: Slight restlessness that comes and goes. Unsure if it's a bad side effect though as I seem to be doing more.

Note: 2MG diazepam taken 1 hour after dose of pregabalin.

[nicola1980]

Good luck xx

[Scratchappy]

Thanks Nicola

[Scratchappy]

Day Two

Dosage: 3 x 50MG daily

1st/2nd/3rd dose @ 50MG:

Effect:

Worrying thoughts, on the main, seem to have been replaced with random songs in my head. For now anyway. Anxiety definitely appears to be down

I seem to be developing a "So what?" and "Don't really care" attitude towards things that used to make me anxious. I don't even seem that bothered with my HPPD symptoms and they can really get me down at times. It's as if I'm at ease with everything. It's really early days but the signs are promising....

After the 2nd dose, I felt really quite stimulated. It's like my senses are sharper and I feel more with it. Concentration is much better. Mood is good too
It seems like the storm that's been in my head for 20 years or so is drifting away and I can actually think relatively clearly. I actually feel very positive and pretty normal. It seems almost unbelievable that the drug is having this much effect so soon on quite a low dose.

Although I feel pretty good, I reckon I'm just scratching the surface with this drug. I think that at higher dosages it will be much more beneficial.


Side effects:

Dry mouth - but I get that with diazepam in any case so it's impossible to differentiate between medications side effects when combined together.
I did get some spasms in my thighs for some reason. I found it amusing and wasn't worried as they lasted just a few minutes.


Note:

Took 4MG diazepam with 1st dose of pregabalin.
Took 2MG diazepam with 3rd dose of pregabalin.
Pregabalin dose taken 5-6 hours after previous dose.

[Scratchappy]

Day Three

Dosage: 3 x 50MG daily

1st/2nd/3rd dose @ 50MG:

Effect:

Anxiety still down. Mood still good. Feeling the same as yesterday, more or less. And it's the best I've felt in a long, long time
I find it unbelievable that I'm not actually getting negative or anxious thoughts. I've almost forgotten that only some days ago my head was all over the place. It seems so much calmer now. And after just 3 days too.

Side effects:

Dry mouth. And a bloody good nights sleep. They don't make me tired during the day but when I put my head down, I'm out for the count A good side effect in my opinion.

Note:

Took 3MG diazepam with 1st dose of pregabalin.
Took 3MG diazepam with 3rd dose of pregabalin.
Pregabalin dose taken 4-6 hours after previous dose.


I've decided to increase the dosage tomorrow to 3 x 100MG daily which is about 2 days earlier than planned. I don't think there will be any problems as I feel comfortable on this medication and I don't think 2 days will make much difference.
I'm doing it out of curiosity more than anything to see how well the drug works. That and I'd quite like to feel some euphoric rushes

[JT69]

Glad that its going o.k for you....may it continue.

Jo.x

[Scratchappy]

Glad that its going o.k for you....may it continue.

Jo.x

Thanks Jo Yes, it's a case of so far, so good really.

---------- Post added at 08:12 ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 ----------

Day Four (not in the Big Brother House)

Dosage: 3 x 100MG daily

1st/2nd/3rd dose @ 100MG:

Effect:

Didn't really notice any difference between increasing the dosage to be honest. Good thing is that anxiety levels are still low and mood is definitely still positive. Although I must admit that I've felt a bit flat at times during the day but that could come down to a number of outside influences as well. But seem to have lost that real get-up and go feeling I had the first few days which is a shame. Hopefully it will return. Anyway, pretty much no one feels good all the time so I can't expect to be on this up all the time either.

I believe it's having a positive affect on my life as for the first time in about 2 months I met up with friends for a drink on Friday. So I'm out socialising again And feeling like I want to be sociable too, more importantly. I didn't even feel anxious about the situation either I felt fine in the social situation - no real panic, no real anxious thoughts either. In fact, to me I seemed really calm. At one point I even searched for anxious thoughts but they just dissipate so quickly that it can't build up into anything. So really happy about not only being able to go out for a bit but also enjoying it too.

I've also put myself down for 5-a-side football next week for the 1st time. I'll only know one person there so it'll be a test for my SA for sure but the fact that my mind has changed from "Don't think I can handle that" to "Yeah, let's give it a go" in the space of about 5 days is a step in the right direction. My only concern is that I'll collapse on the pitch (well, sports hall court anyway) due to being too unfit from smoking all these years Think I'll mostly be playing in goal then.

I'm also thinking about returning to work in about a month My mind set really has changed as before the medication, I really didn't think that I could go back to a full-time job or even handle a part-time job so the fact I'm considering it now is a very good sign But I want to give the medication plenty of time in order to assess it's effectiveness and to get the dosage levels right. It may just be wishful thinking but for now but it's something to aim for anyway.
I still have to remind myself that's it's very early days on this drug and to take things slowly and also that the work environment is completely different to the one at home. Each day as it comes and all that.....

Oh, one thing I should mention is that I had 2.5 beers when I was out. Got to admit that after the second pint it started to hit me pretty hard! But I hadn't really eaten for about 6 hours and I've not really been drinking for about 2 months so should take that into consideration. It was 5% lager though too. Honestly, I am NOT a lightweight
I didn't get emotional either which can sometimes happen to me when I'm under heavy anxiety and have had a couple of drinks. I'd only feel a bit tearful when I got home as the alcohol seemed to depress me. But I just felt chilled out and a little drunk
I didn't get any adverse effects other than losing concentration slightly and feeling a little bit spaced out. Nothing that a large coca cola and food wouldn't have sorted out in any case.


Side effects:

Dry mouth, as usual. But not all the time I've noticed.


Note:

Took 3MG diazepam with 1st dose of pregabalin.
Took 3MG diazepam with 3rd dose of pregabalin.
Pregabalin dose taken 4-6 hours after previous dose.

[nicola1980]

Sounds like your doing really well, well done wish i was x x

[Belleblue]

Hi Scratchappy - I'm pleased to hear that you are doing well so far on this medicatiion I am reading your diary with interest as I am considering taking it too.

Take care now and keep on keeping us informed.
Belle x

[Scratchappy]

Sounds like your doing really well, well done wish i was x x

Hey Nicola. Thanks for the message Yes, things are going better than I could have hoped so far. But am careful not to get carried away.

Sorry to hear you're not. Are you also taking pregabalin?