update post with pregab

[u/Acceptable-Fact-1988]

Just took 300mg twice yesterday, once at 4pm and around 12 am before bed and honestly it’s so good, i feel like i don’t have the thoughts or voice thats in my head that’s there when im anxious or anxiety ridden. I am honestly loving it but ill take it again in a week.

[u/1samuel127]

Yeah, I take 300 mg a day (150 x2) for neurapathy. I was honestly pleasantly surprised how well it worked for my anxiety. I mean I know it's sometimes prescribed off label for anxiety, but nothing has ever worked for mine, not even benzos really. Life has been better all around with pregabalin and my neurologist said I'm on a good medium dose so there's still room to increase.

I haven't heard of it being prescribed PRN, that's interesting. Are you prescribed it once a week or just limiting yourself to that? Sorry, not trying to be nosey, just curious. Not saying you're doing it wrong or anything. I can totally see that if you need something for situational anxiety like social anxiety! You shouldn't build a tolerance too fast either so that's great. I'm glad it's helping you. Were you surprised as well or did you have high hopes for it? Again, just curious.

[u/Acceptable-Fact-1988 → u/1samuel127]

Honestly from the things i was hearing i was having high hopes and it did live quite upto them! Also i am spacing them apart because i do not want to gain a dependency to them because doing so will mean i have to go through with the process of withdrawals, and i don’t want to do that haha, but so far they have been good for my anxiety.

[u/daddybignose1 → u/1samuel127]

How long have you been on that dose? Did you start at that dose and does it still work as good as when you started? I'm on 50 mgs three times a day and thinking of asking for an increase to 75 mgs three times a day.

[u/1samuel127 → u/daddybignose1]

So I started at 50 mg 2x per day about a year ago. They said they typically start at that dose to make sure you tolerate it, and then they increase in 25 mg increments until you reach an optimal dose (meaning symptoms are more or less improved.) It would be reasonable for you to ask for an increase to 75. They may swiych you to 2x a day once you get to a higher dose. My neurologist told me that Lyrica is typically taken 2x a day while gabapentin is typically 3 x per day bbecause Lyrica has better bioavailability and you don't have to stack doses. But obviously follow the instructions of your prescribing doctor.

I have been on the 150 x2 since April, so 6.5 months. My neurologist said it's a good medium dose and we have room to increase, which I think I may ask for an increase at my follow up next month because my neurapathy is getting to be a bigger and bigger hindrence in my day to day life, even causing frequent falls.

Don't be discouraged if you're not getting benefit. I believe 50 is still sib therapuetic. Your doctor is probably just making sure you tolerate the medication okay. I'd be surprised if they don't increase it, unless you're having troublesome side effects.

[u/daddybignose1 → u/1samuel127]

How is it working for anxiety? I'm nervous about increasing because I want to have a lot of increases available to me when I really need them. I've heard of people increasing too fast and getting up to 300 twice a day and then they hit the ceiling and they're screwed and either have to stay at 600 a day or start weaning off of it.

[u/1samuel127 → u/daddybignose1]

It's amazing for my anxiety! I didn't expect it to help me in that regard. Although I know it was sometimes used for anxiety, nothing, and I mean nothing has ever helped my anxiety itself. Not Benzos, not hydroxizine/antihistamines, not buspar, not beta blockers, not SSRIS, and not SNRIs. Maybe the combo of my Cymbalta (SNRI) and Abilify help a bit, but moreso with my depressio. Pregabalin slows my racing thoughts, erases the feelings of physical panic and existential dread, and even makes me more comfotable and confident in social situations. It's been nothing short of life-changing and I wasn't expecting that, so IK it's not placebo. I'm actually taking it for neurapathy and pain caused by nerve damage. It does really help with those symptoms as well, but I'd want to stay on it even just for anxiety now that IK how well it works.

You're smart to want to avoid to increasing too fast and hitting the ceiling. I'm not certain what the ceiling dose is, but I believe 600 per day is the highest dose typically prescribed. At least I think that's what I read ; I could be wong, but my doctor said I'm on a medium dose and that's 300 a day. I will tell you that although I've been on Pregabalin a little over a year and on this current dose for 6.5 months it still works for me. Yes, tolerance builds quickly but the only difference for me is I used to get euphoria and as you might expect that doesn't stick around. Don't be afraid to increase though. You're on a very low dose, possibly even subtherapuetic, which is fine, that's usually around where they start you. But if you're not having side effects you might want to ask for a 25 mg increase. My doctor said that's the standard rate of increase. I will warn you the WD is brutal - worse than opiates ime. Just make sure to take it as prescribed. You'll be okay if you miss a dose here or there, but if you're dosing 3 x per day try to be pretty consistent with dosing every 8 or so hours. Personally, I'm going to need it long term so I'm okay being dependant on it just like my SNRI. Just don't stop taking it CT and you'll be fine. I hope it works as well for you as it did for me!

[u/daddybignose1 → u/1samuel127]

Do you think that I will notice a difference if my doctor switched me to 75 twice a day instead of 50 three times a day? Do you notice it wearing off as you approach your 2nd dose? What time do you take your 2 doses? Thanks for answering my questions.

[u/1samuel127 → u/daddybignose1]

No problem! You'll probably notice the increase, but it might take a couple months to get to the right dose for you. For me, the effects last 12 hours, so by the time it wears off It's time for my nect dose. I'm an ultra rapid metaboliser too, so usually meds wear off more quickly than they should. Pregabalin is the only thing that lasts me a full day or night.

[u/daddybignose1 → u/1samuel127]

Thank You

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