Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1082199

Shown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?

Posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 15:48:22

Given the positive clinical trials, European approval for GAD, and mostly posive user reviews, why is Pregabalin not used more for anxiety?

Linkadge

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?

Posted by jpa on September 8, 2015, at 17:31:54

In reply to Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 15:48:22

Tried it. Had great hopes for it based from what I could gather from online reviews. Works at first, quickly looses effectiveness, leaving you to up the dose. Sound familiar. By the time I got to over 300mg my brain was turning to mush. Speech and stringing thoughts together became difficult. Decision to get off it was easy in the end. No lasting benefits, tones of side effects. By the way, getting off lyrica is not fun.

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?

Posted by Horse on September 9, 2015, at 16:20:24

In reply to Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?, posted by jpa on September 8, 2015, at 17:31:54

My pdoc didn't know about the European usage. Most docs I've seen don't, and I have no idea why. Works better than anything... It's a great relief... My gad was severe.

There are cognitive side effects, but maybe you could get by with a lower dose than suggested (I think it's 450 mg) since you respond well to low doses.

I agree with op that withdrawal is no fun. I let myself run out once because I thought I was on too many medications. Whoa. Never again.

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?

Posted by linkadge on September 9, 2015, at 18:07:08

In reply to Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?, posted by Horse on September 9, 2015, at 16:20:24

Hmm. I feel that certain anxiety disorders are due to calcium dysregulation rather than serotonin deficiency. Docs keep pushing the serotonin boosters and (for some) this only makes the problem worse. I get benefit from magnesium, but I need to take a LOT of it (hundreds of mg).

I seem to hear two responses 1) it works well and 2) it works well but looses its effect. It seems to have long term therapeutic effect for seizures and/or neuropathy (no dosage escalation).


Linkadge

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more? » linkadge

Posted by herpills on September 11, 2015, at 9:24:51

In reply to Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 15:48:22

> Given the positive clinical trials, European approval for GAD, and mostly posive user reviews, why is Pregabalin not used more for anxiety?
>
> Linkadge

Good question. I feel lucky that my current prescriber let me try it. I also have pain issues though, I don't think I would have gotten it for anxiety alone. Unfortunately, it's not that great for pain. I do think it helps anxiety. It got me off benzos which I took daily for years. I also take mirtazapine.
I do feel the Lyrica hasn't been working as well lately and am thinking about dropping it. I'm on 300mg right now. I suppose I could try a higher dose but I'm already worried about withdrawls at the dose I'm at if I decide to discontinue.

I'd say it's definitely worth trying, if you can get your doctor to prescribe.

I'll also add, I don't think the SSRI are that great for anxiety, I don't understand why they're considered a first line treatment.

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more? » jpa

Posted by herpills on September 11, 2015, at 9:26:43

In reply to Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?, posted by jpa on September 8, 2015, at 17:31:54

> Tried it. Had great hopes for it based from what I could gather from online reviews. Works at first, quickly looses effectiveness, leaving you to up the dose. Sound familiar. By the time I got to over 300mg my brain was turning to mush. Speech and stringing thoughts together became difficult. Decision to get off it was easy in the end. No lasting benefits, tones of side effects. By the way, getting off lyrica is not fun.

I also had to up the dose, although I didn't feel that it lost effectiveness that fast...I think I was on 200mg for about 9 months, then went to 300mg. Can I ask, what was your strategy for discontinuing? Did you do a slow taper, a fast taper, or cold turkey? How did you feel?

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more? » Horse

Posted by herpills on September 11, 2015, at 9:27:55

In reply to Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?, posted by Horse on September 9, 2015, at 16:20:24

Hi- could I ask what dose you currently take for GAD? Also, how did you feel when you ran out of the medication?

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?

Posted by Meltingpot on September 11, 2015, at 11:01:50

In reply to Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 15:48:22

Hi,

Just thought I'd add my experience with pregabalin. I tried it ontop of my Seroxat and it just made me feel a little drunk.

However, when I tried 300mg of it when not on anything, I definately found a lift in my mood, more energy and no anxiety at all. It did seem to affect my short term memory though and I did have a tendancy to flit from one thing to another too much. I didn't feel like ME on it but I would consider taking it if I didn't get any help from Zyprexa or SSRIs.

Denise

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more? » herpills

Posted by Horse on September 11, 2015, at 11:04:32

In reply to Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more? » Horse, posted by herpills on September 11, 2015, at 9:27:55

I take 200-600 mg per day in 200 mg capsules. I have fibromyalgia, and lyrica helps with the odd, indescribable pain. I also take 200 mg Ultram daily to address basic pain.

When I ran out, well, I thought I had tapered, like 200 mg every other day, etc. I felt very ill, flu-ish, stomach pain, basically bedridden. I actually called the pharmacist because I couldn't get ahold of my psychiatrist...the withdrawal was unexpected in intensity and form. However, it lessened significantly after three days, and I feel I had cleared the window of withdrawal. By the time I restarted, I was feeling fairly ok.

Hope this helps. Btw, I've been taking it for year and a half, and it has maintained efficacy. Only the euphoria has diminished.

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?

Posted by jpa on September 13, 2015, at 9:12:56

In reply to Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more? » jpa, posted by herpills on September 11, 2015, at 9:26:43

Hey there Herpills,

I discontinued cold turkey. It was difficult. I felt Lyrica was potentiating the phenibut I was taking, but I had to get off the combo because it's effectiveness waned quickly. Phenibut is not the answer to a chronic anxiety condition. I have failed to find something that would allow the phenibut to remain effective when taken daily. I'm out of ideas on what the next course of action should be for me. For now, I'm living with the insomnia, anxiety and headaches...not fun.

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?

Posted by Lamdage22 on September 13, 2015, at 15:05:32

In reply to Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?, posted by jpa on September 13, 2015, at 9:12:56

Is Pregabalin less addicting than Lorazepam for sure?

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?

Posted by Christ_empowered on September 13, 2015, at 15:36:38

In reply to Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?, posted by Lamdage22 on September 13, 2015, at 15:05:32

In the US, pregabalin is Schedule V I think...barely controlled. Lorazepam is Schedule IV. Of course...sometimes, meds come out not controlled or barely controlled and then they go up the Schedule. Valium wasn't a controlled substance until 84 or so (I think). Quaaludes were Schedule V at first. And of course...some people think benzos, or at least some benzos, should be more tightly controlled.

So...I dunno, lol. Right now, I think the thinking is Yes, but that could change over the years (especially after it goes off patent).

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more? » Horse

Posted by herpills on September 17, 2015, at 18:06:49

In reply to Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more? » herpills, posted by Horse on September 11, 2015, at 11:04:32

Thanks. You mentioned 200-600mg...so do you alter your dose day by day depending on the severity of your symptoms?

 

Re: Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more? » linkadge

Posted by phidippus on September 19, 2015, at 11:36:22

In reply to Pregabalin for GAD - why not used more?, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 15:48:22

Because of concerns it causes suicidal ideation.

Eric


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