Started today low dose

[WolfieKate]

Just seen GP and see her again in a week. I take 40 mg prozac a day and I have for many years.

She has given me a prescription for 150 mg Pregabalin a day. But told me to start with 50 mg and build up. So I just took 50 mg. It doesn't sound like that is much but I am a small build, only weigh 8 stone so prob better to start off that way. GP said some people love it some hate it so I'll give it go and see her next friday.

Because I have history of pill abuse and overdose I am only allowed small amounts of prozac from now on too. But I guess now I am not working it doesn't really matter as plenty of time to go to chemists.

For those who built up dose over time did you spread out over day or take all in one go?

Cheers

Kate

---------- Post added at 14:03 ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 ----------

Felt fine, just a wee bit spacey in tescos so took 50 mg more at 2pm as felt anxiety rushing back in. So that's 100 mg so far today. Feel OK.

6.50 pm Still only taken 100 mg today and feel amazing! Calm enough to play with kids for 2 hours! I hardly ever do that. Fingers crossed this is the start of something good.

[hanshan]

Hi Kate,

Good luck with pregabalin - it's a good sign that has worked on the first day at a low dose.

Pregabalin has a short half life, so taking it twice a day is recommended to even out the dose. However, some people take a higher dose to correspond to times of the day when they are more likely to feel anxiety.

Keep trying, and things will be on the up and up.

[WolfieKate]

Firstly thank you hanshan for the support and encouragement. Yesterday afternoon/evening was amazing. I put kids to bed for first time in months instead of hiding in bed which is what I usually do.

Day 2.

I was intending to take 50mg 3 times today but think I will stick to 50 mg x 2 as I feel very drowsy and confused this morning. Though NB. took some 30/500 cocodamol for hip pain last night at 11pm and I don't think it mixes at all. So for now brain is going to have to come before pain and I will stop taking codeine painkillers. I have bad hip pain (tendonitis and fibro) but I'd rather live with it and work on my head for now.

Only major side effects so far - very dry mouth but given that prozac dehydrates anyway I am used to this! And slight spacey feeling 1-2 hours after taking pregabalin but which soon passed.

Will take first dose later on this morning. Have prozac with my early coffee! Lol

[loreen]

Hi Kate

Good luck with the pregabalin.

I also take fluoxetine(20mg) and pregabalin and am finding it a good combination.

I am a Mum of 4 and have a part time job. I find both of these very hard sometimes,so I understand completely .

Keep strong

Loreen x

[WolfieKate]

Thanks Loreen

Have had to give up work for now. But bizarrely I think that's a good thing. The thing I actually find hard and was running away from is being a parent. I need to be more of a Mum and so far the pregabalin is a strange sort of OK for me. I lost my own Mum 4 years ago in oct and I still struggle with those emotions as we were so close.

Day 3.

Review of Day 2 - Took 150mg - 3 x 50 mg doses across day. Managed trip to zoo with kids and stayed fairly calm. Very tired but I am withdrawing from valium addiction so I honestly expect some kind of insomnia. And I have PMT which in your mid forties can be an utter nightmare. I get nightsweats and all sorts of hormonal nonsense.

I think that toughest thing is working out when best to take Pregabalin? So today I have taken 100 mg first thing. I am trying this as yesterday I felt calmest in the evening as if it took all day to achieve that level of "normalcy". I read a book to my son which I would normally never do as would be way too mentally fried. Feel good to be helping more at bedtime.

Plan today is to take 100 mg first thing which I have done. Then try my last 50mg at bedtime. Not sure worth taking at bedtime if it has a short life. But if anxiety worsens will take remaining 50mg earlier.

Side effects so far - dry mouth, slightly spaced out of body feeling but so much calmer. My own view point right now is that it will take at least a month to work out whether this has long term potential for me.

Kate

[WolfieKate]

Day 4.

Review of Day 3. Took 100 mg between 7 and 8am and then another 50mg at 4pm. Didn't feel like it worked that well today. Just managed shopping trip for school shoes then went to bed to escape about 3.30 and didn't get up again.

Today - took 50 mg at 7am and intend to take other 2 doses over course of day. Very very anxious this morning, hands shaking/body twitching kind of anxiety. But first day back at school for the kids and it's an anxious one for me as big crowds upset me and I find the whole school gate thing loathsome.

Review of pregabalin - Juries out, seems to work intermittently which may be a sign that it is right for me. But my anxiety is BIG! And I am recovering from over a year of being reliant on/addicted to valium. So I guess it kind of doubles up my perception of just how anxious I feel.

And of course pregabalin is for anxiety not depression and I have both. So last night I was incredibly depressed. My life has been a mess for so many years and I am depressed about it all. I will probably seek counselling. Then again my last few years of counselling has pros and cons - made me see what the matter was and where it came from but I ended up burnt out after 6 months fulltime work. Not sure my last counselling really hit the button on life direction.

[loreen]

Hello Kate

Hope you are feeling a bit calmer now?

I also hate the school gate as I feel like I am an outsider most of the time. Everyone else seems to have the perfect life and perfect kids.I also dont cope well with assemblies and childrens parties-all the things "normal"Mums seem to do without a second thought!!

Pregabalin hasn't cured me,but it does help me to cope,and for that I feel very grateful.

Take care

Loreen x

[beautifulfreak77]

hi i was wondering if you could give me some advice??
im agoraphobic i do go out but not to far from home,iv tried a few ssri's but they make me feel worse,do you think pregabalin could maybe work for me?? i dont really want to be on a antidepressant as my down days are only down to me not being able to go out and do the stuff i wanna do im not depressed as such if you know what i mean...
Kerry

[loreen]

Hi Kerry

Pregabalin is definitly worth a try.I know it doesnt work for everybody,but you don't know unless you try.

It is quite difficult to get prescribed as it is an expensive treatment,but if you have tried SSRIs and they don't work for you,then your doctor should let you give them a try..

Good luck

Loreen x

[WolfieKate]

Hmmm Day 4

Hasn't really worked for me today. Took 150 mg over course of morning and it just made me sleep. I have been in bed all day, depressed and zonked and couldn't get kids so hubby got them. No effect on anxiety. Might take less tomorrow and see how I feel. Maybe just 50 mg. To be honest I am getting a bit tired of my GP trying me with medications and no input from mental health team. I just get given leaflets on alcohol abuse and yet isn't that just a symptom not the inner issue? My issues feel so complex But i imagine everyone feels that way.