This news appeared a couple of days ago, and sounds like it will be bad news for many MSers.
“Gabapentinoids are set to become controlled drugs, after a spike in the number of related deaths and series of studies warning about the adverse effects of the medication.”
From:
Pregabalin and gabapentin set to become controlled drugs
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/more-clinical-areas/pain-relief/pregabalin-and-gabapentin-set-to-become-controlled-drugs/20035333.article
and
“The government has now accepted in principle that pregabalin should be reclassified as a class C controlled substance, which would mean patients could not obtain a repeat prescription.”
“It would mean the drug could not be repeat-dispensed and prescriptions would only be valid for one month.”
From:
Pregabalin, known as 'new valium', to be made class C drug after deaths
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/sep/21/pregabalin-new-valium-class-c-drug-deaths
How will this affect the many of you who take pregabalin or gabapentin?
I wonder if any of you can advise, do I need to work down off Gabapentin completely before starting Pregablin or can I just switch?
Doctor didn't advise.
I have gradually reduced down from1800mg Gabapentin to 900 but don't know if I need to work all the way down first?
Edited by Scully to include tags.
Hi,
I gave in and went back to the doctor today. The pain and muscle tightness in my legs and feet is causing problems day to day but also this burning pain in my ankle is really getting to me, getting worse and starting to keep me awake at night.
I couldn't narrow it down to any particular cause and it appears and disappears, sometimes lasting hours sometimes minutes and in between - nothing. Of course when I got to the doctor, although it had been on and off all day, there was nothing but he prodded and asked lots of questions and ruled out injury or muscle/tendon problem.
So I agreed to go on Gabapentin on top of the Amytriptline.
Does anyone else take this?
Have you found it effective?
Any side effects?
Thanks as always.
Katie
Edited to include tags to other topic links
Hello All,
I've been on Gabapentin (Neurotin) for several years to try and control pain. Yo-yoing with the dose, depending on how good or, mainly bad the pain was.
Last year I developed Trigeminal Neuralgia. Quite the worst and excruciating pain I've ever experienced. On instruction from the GP, I hiked the Gabaoentin dose to almost 3000mg a day. After a few weeks I gradually reduced the dose, once the T.N. Was under control and had receded, for how long of course we don't know.
Of late, the leg and arm pain was quite debilitating, read 'bloody painful, and even at a daily intake of some 2300mg a day, the pain was out of control.
I sought the GP out and told him I didn't think the Gabapentin was working as well as it used to. Long conversation followed and he suggested Pregabalin (Lyrica). He also said that because Pregabalin was some 6 times more expensive than Gabapentin, he would have to clear it with the District Pharmacist !!
Thankfully the GP put my case, empathising that my pain levels were no longer under control and I'd tried Gabapentin for some years and it was approved.
It got complicated inasmuch as one can't just stop Gabapentin, it has to be reduced slowly..and...at the same time, Pregabalin needed to be introduced slowly too.
I had to write down the daily reducing doses of Gabapentin and the increasing doses of Pregabalin it was so difficult to remember how many mg's of what!
So, Gabapentin in no longer in my 'drug cocktail' and I'm almost up to the full dose of Pregabalin.
The first full dose of Pregabalin , which was 150mg's found me, within an hour, almost pain free!...hurrah.......downside was that I wasn't absolutely sure who the hell I was, balance was not great and tiredness was an issue for a while.
I have to say that so far, I'm pleased with the switchover, my intense pain is absolutely under control, and the side effects are slowly wearing off.
Moral of the story
1. Don't be afraid to tell the GP if something no longer seems to work.
2. Put your case for a more expensive drug clearly and concisely.
3. Plough on through the side effects
The results may surprise you and, more importantly ....I can at last.....get rid of my 'In Pain' avatar ..Hurrah for Pregabalin.
Scully
x
I have been taking Gabapentin for a little while now, not a big dose, only 600mg a day and it seems like I have had the beginnings of a cold for as long as I can remember. Sniffles, a feeling in the throat, the usual stuff you get before a cold, but it never seems to actually come.
It is always hard to tell what came first, the drug or the snotty nose, but I am fairly certain it was the drug. It is close anyway.
There is no real mention of it as a side effect but then again that is not always the most reliable guide.
Anyone else seem to have acquired a potential nearly cold since going onto Gabapentin?
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