Pregabalin

Following with interest.
Pregabalin has been recommended for me by a consultant; he also recommended Amitriptyline, I'm currently trying out the latter, and if I don't have any joy, it's the Pregabalin next.
I've got spinal stenosis.
I hope that your treatment goes well Marilla.
I started a very similar thread about Amitriptyline recently, and I got lots of very helpful (if wildly differing!) responses and advice.

Mine was for my knee pain but I was only on the drug a few days before I developed a nasty rash on my chest and spreading so, unfortunately, I had to stop it.

I have just started taking pregabalin for occipital neuralgia in my head, caused by arthritis in my neck pinching a nerve. It was so bad I couldn't sleep. It seems to be working ok for me and my GP is gradually increasing the dose. I started just taking it at night before bed and then one in the morning. It did make me feel a bit woozy in the morning but this wore off as my body gradually got used to it and now it's fine. There are some other medicines which are contra-indicated with pregabalin so it's worth googling it just to check.

I took Pregabalin and it was the worst thing I could have done.
It is very addictive
You have to increase the dosage to keep the pain relief and the side effects are very severe.
As wll as putting on 3.5 stone in under6 months I began to lose my memory nd concentration.
I stopped all my creative hobbies.

It has now been found in scientific studies that Pregabalin actually kills off brain cells.

If you want to know where to find more info please pm me.

I feel very strongly to speak out because although it won't negatively effect everyone who takes it, if you do develop any side effects they only will get worse.

I took Pregabalin for many years. It alleviated nerve pain and allowed me to get back to work and to function fairly normally after extreme pain for years. Eventually, I decided to get myself off the tablets. I reduced them as gradually as I could, over a long time, until I was tablet free. My nerve pain was by then reduced to a point where I could manage without painkillers. Had I stayed on the tablets I would not have been aware that my pain was manageable by that time. I felt as if a light had been switched on again in my life when I was tablet free. Yes, they helped with pain, but they definitely made me “fuzzy”.

I very much appreciate the replies. I found them very interesting. Such different experiences from a small group of women. I have been following GP’s orders and he is gradually increasing the dose until I get relief. It’s not like taking a painkiller where you feel the drug kicking in. I could take 150mg in the morning and still experience the horrible pains that come with sciatica. On another day, I could take it and get relief for maybe an hour. This week I’m on 300 mg per day.
I wish the pain relief would last longer.
Thank you Fannycornforth for your best wishes.

I’ve been on Pregabalin for 8 years for neuropathic pain , I taken 150mg three times daily . It doesn’t fully take away the pain , just dampens it down so to speak , but if I were not on it the pain would be far too unbearable to be able to live . I don’t have any side effects except having put on weight , but that’s better than not taking it .

DH is taking Pregabalin for peripheral neuropathy following 5 courses of chemotherapy. It’s not a painkiller as such for him, but helps deaden the sensations in his feet and hands. It does seem to have affected his memory, but at the moment the benefits outweigh the side effects.

I’m prescribed Pregabalin for anxiety. I take 150g twice a day but I’m not sure that it’s helping. I also have bad sciatic pain but the Pregabalin doesn’t help at all with that. The only side effect I have is a very dry mouth.

Hi I have a condition called Neuromyelitis Optica, in short it affects the nerve shaft in the spine, the optic nerve and the brain. No cure as yet. Diagnosed in 2006. Learned to walk sit and stand again (lucky as some don't) It is very rare. However, it is controlled with Steroids, Pregabalin for the nerve pain and a host of other meds. Pregabalin works really well, only realise it if you stop taking. Hope all your pain improves.x

Pregabalin nerve problem in foot.
On low dose, However can up the dose if required.

My husband was on Gabapentin which is from the same family of drugs, for Post herpetic nerve pain following a bout of shingles. It worked extremely well for him, the main thing is to taper it up and taper it down, so take as long to reduce it as you do to increase.