How did Pregabalin work for you?

[Lan69]

I was originally on 300mg but my new psychiatrist said that was a low dose for anxiety so increased me to 450mg. Overall this drug has gave me some of my life back. I now can eat ( too much), sleep and get out of the house. I've been on this dose since November. My psychiatrist said I could go up to 600mg but she is quite happy to leave me at 450mg for now

[hanshan]

Here is a more recent review which could find no consistent dose-response relationship between 200 and 600 mg per day, indicating that it's a person by person thing within that range (and probably at lower doses).

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2013; 9: 883–892.
Pregabalin for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: an update
David S Baldwin, Khalil Ajel, Vasilios G Masdrakis, Magda Nowak, and Rizwan Rafiq

“Dose-response relationships for antidepressants in the treatment of patients with GAD are not established, and for pregabalin, the evidence is mixed. Meta-analysis of the findings from randomized controlled trials found no evidence for a dose-response curve for daily dosages between 200–600 mg, although a 150 mg daily dosage was associated with a slower onset of efficacy. However, a dose-response effect was observed when comparing the lowest dose (150 mg/d) to the 200–600 mg dosing range. For the 150 mg/d dose of pregabalin, there was a somewhat lower short-term improvement in both the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) total score, and in the HAM-A sleep item. A post hoc analysis of the effects of pregabalin in reducing severity of psychological and physical anxiety symptoms indicates a 150 mg daily dosage may be suboptimal, whereas no dose-response effect was observed within a daily dosage range of between 300–600 mg.”

[AdamE]

I think I'm really going to bring this up with my GP tomorrow. Do you think it might be too far of a jump without fully trying out Sertraline and Escatalopram first? I was a big baby and quit taking them do to the side effects when my already crazy anxiety issues were multiplied by 100.

[benji80]

AdamE, you can ask your GP but without knowing how it works in the USA, I can't say whether or not you will get it. Here in the UK, pregablin is not prescribed without trying other meds first. I have however found it helpful. Whilst I am still not where I want to be, it has steadied the ship and I am in a much better place than I was.

[sandie]

Some of you might have seen my thread about withdrawing from Mirtazapine/

I a aged 62 and until last September had never been on any ADs. Ten years ago I did have an anxiety episode for which I was prescribed Propanalol - which worked and I only took them for about 6 months.

Last year I had another episode which resulted in extreme anxiety and because I am now an asthmatic I cannot take Propanalol. Instead my GP prescribed Sertraline, initially at 50 mg and then upped two weeks later to 100 mg. Within 4 weeks of starting the Sert I was bouncing off the walls and suffering serious heightened anxiety.

My GP switched me to Mirtazapine - initially at 15 mg and then increased two weeks later to 30 mg. It completely destroyed what little sleep I enjoyed and further heightened my anxiety, so after 8 weeks I decided to withdraw. I reduced to 22.5 mg, then 15 mg, and I am now on 7,5 mg (since Christmas Day). I am now getting some sleep - it is not ideal, but far better than the 2-3 hours per night I existed on for many weeks.

While the situation which started my anxiety is beginning to resolve itself, I still have extreme anxiety. My GP has prescribed me 2 mg diazepam twice a day to take the edge off the anxiety as and when necessary. I realise that 2 mg is a small dose, but I do find them effective - and they calm me within 5-10 minutes. I do believe I am very sensitive to meds. I am very frugal with the Diaz. - only taking them when I feel desperate, mostly because I know my GP will not want me to become reliant on them and will eventually stop giving them to me.

I have had some days (like today), when I awake with that awful tight pressure on my chest, adrenaline churning somersaults in my stomach and this anxiety has continued throughout the day. Today has been very bad and has left me feeling very tense and with dreadful pains in my back.

I am seeing my GP on Monday and will have my husband with me for support. (He works away most of the time so I spend a lot of time on my own).

Both my husband and I have done quite a lot of research on Pregabalin and feel it MIGHT suit me - although I would want to start at the lowest possible dose.

I really would appreciate any comments about Pregabalin users' experiences and their thoughts about how useful Preg might for me.

Hopefully over the weekend I can get sufficient information to discuss this with my GP as a possible way forward for me.

I am due to start CBT next week, and hope that if I can get the meds right, this two-pronged approach might sort me out.

Thanks.

[hanshan]

I'm just bumping this poll up as there may be people who have not seen it or voted.

[Nella131]

Interesting to read this; I'd been considering trying pregabalin for my chronic GAD for months since it was first suggested as an option by a psychiatrist (several SSRI's, an SNRI, a tricyclic all had zero effect on my anxiety at best - and at worst gave me such terrible side effects including unbearable agitation and thoughts of harming myself that I had to come off them after 2-3 weeks - sertraline and paroxetine were the worst).

I have a history of anorexia so was worried about the risk of weight gain, but in the end decided it was worth a shot to give me a chance of finally finding something that might actually help...

3-4 weeks in, I'm on 50mg in morning and 100 at night - and I am definitely pleased with the improvement in my anxiety so far. It began having some noticeable effect in the first few days, which I wasn't expecting - and my sleep has significantly improved. I'm not taking zopiclone any more (I had been taking a low dose most nights before the pregabalin) as I don't feel that horrible somatic agitation and muscle tension/pounding heart that used to keep me awake, and I'm not waking up so many times in the night (only about 3 times, as opposed to every hour!)

I'm still feeling some anxiety (quite bad at times still) but the main thing is that I've actually experienced some periods of relaxation (what is this new lovely sense of calm and peace?!!) at home in the evenings, and I have definitely felt a lot less anxious/on edge/panicky in situations that had been continually wearing - eg walking along busy roads, shopping etc.

I'm hoping that having just recently gone up to the 150mg a day that there will still be some further improvement... (or is that too much to ask for..I am still a bit worried about forming a tolerance to it)

Side effects: well so far my weight has stayed exactly the same, so that is a relief! There are some effects I'm not keen on - headaches, some slight dizziness and sedated feeling (not that that's a bad thing at night) - and a weird pins and needles/crawling sensation in my face and hands sometimes (I've had that before with anxiety but not for ages).

One difficulty:I went to GP (not one I've seen before) with the pharmacy slip from my consultant, and they were VERY unhappy with my having been prescribed it... Kicked up such a fuss, said they would never prescribe it at their practice, and made me feel like some addict who had bought it online!

Consultant reassured me and said he would intervene: went back and saw my usual doctor who turned out to be absolutely fine with it. No problems at all - but it gave me a bit of a panic.

Hope this is helpful anyway to add to the discussion; I haven't posted on here before but have found the forums very helpful to read

[hanshan]

Hi Nella131

Thanks for your post, and welcome to NMP. Yes, it's very useful to read of your experiences starting pregabalin. I'm so sorry to hear of your trouble with the GP, but it's good to hear that you were able to get it sorted out with help of the consultant. Hopefully your side effects will fade and you will see continued improvement with pregabalin. My best wishes to you.

[Nella131]

Thank you hanshan - appreciate your welcome : )

[flipp]

I was on pregabalin for a back problem,ended up only taking it for two weeks,it combined with the Avanza made me dizzy and restless legs so I stopped taking it.