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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Hi all,
My apologies for this long post but I'm rather desperate and struggling and any help would be appreciated, especially if anyone has gone through anything similar.
So, I was prescribed Pregablin and Dihydrocodeine on the 19th of November due to suspected bulging/herniated disc in my neck where the pain was radiating from my neck to the whole of my left arm from the shoulders down. I had similar issue 2 years ago but not as bad. I have an mri scan January 4th.
Dosage:
Pregabalin 50mg x 3 daily
Dihydrocodeine 30mg x 3 daily
Both were taken together.
Pain had subsided quite a bit then on the 6th of December, after inhaling hard through my nose, no joke, I aggravated my nerve and the pain increased to an unimaginable level.
I then called my GP 3 days later on the 9th as pain was still unbearable. Dosage was then upped to pregablin 400mg - 100mg x 4 daily and dihydrocodeine to 240 mg - 60mg x 4.
There was still absolutely no pain relief. The pain was always like 10/10. Then on the 11th of December the pain was screaming out and reached a whole new level. I couldn't even stand and was in tears. An ambulance was called and I was admitted to hospital. The paramedics administered morphine intravenously which had taken off the the edge from the pain.
I was then given morphine orally twice in the 8 hours I was in the hospital and felt some comfort.
The Dr in the hospital said that I should up my dosage of pregablin to 600mg daily. I then spoke to my doctor the next day on the 12th and agreed that I go on the this maximum dose. Within couple of days, my pain came down to around 6/10. I carried on taking 600mg for the next 5 days along with the dihydrocodeine of 240mg. I've not experienced any bad side effects of taking these pain killers apart from feeling tired and mild constipation.
I wasn't really aware of how serious withdrawal symptoms can be. So, from the 17th of December I dropped pregablin to 400mg for 2 days then down to 200mg for the next 2 days after. I had also reduced the dihydrocodeine to 60mg at this point. Since the 22nd and 23rd I've taken only 100mg pregablin in one go at 10am 24 hours apart. I've stopped dihydrocodeine on the 22nd which was 60mg taken in one go.
My pain has subsided substantially and I can live without the pain killers and let my body heal on its own. However, my worry is that the pregablin still keeping my pain low and if I come off it, will the pain come screaming back and nervous about any withdrawal symptoms. And after reading a few posts online, I realise that my taper is probably too quick. Mind you, I did have hot flushes last couple of nights and was feeling slightly nauseous last night and bit of diarrhoea. Stool is still a bit soft (sorry for too much info)I don't know if I'm anxious coming off pregablin, pain coming back or if tapering off to early.
I spoke to my Gp who said I've done the perfect thing by tapering off even though it was quick. I did raise my concerns about withdrawal symptoms and she said it's nothing to worry about as it's usually for patients who have been on pregabalin many months. However,I'm skeptical about what my GP said.
According to my calculation, I've been on pregabalin for around 35 days give or take 2-5days.
I started to have hot flushes, anxiety and depression. Just came on all of a sudden. Also have nausea and as of tonight, severe headache and high blood pressure 170/110.
I took 50mg of pregablin earlier today at 2pm as I'm lost as what to do.
Has anyone been through this coming off pregabalin? |
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By *ewrocksWoman
over a year ago
button moon |
It sounds like you're not having withdrawal, doc is right, 35 days is not classed as long term usage, seems more like you're over thinking and creating problems you don't need. Anxiety is a bitch |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"It sounds like you're not having withdrawal, doc is right, 35 days is not classed as long term usage, seems more like you're over thinking and creating problems you don't need. Anxiety is a bitch "
Thank you for your reply. Believe me when I say I'm not over thinking at all. I'm pretty strong willed. I was on the maximum dosage albeit for 5 days during the 5 weeks or so.
I don't drink or smoke...
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Hold on.. you’re skeptical of what a fully trained GP said… so you make a thread on a swinging site to a bunch of random strangers?!? 
You’re over thinking bud! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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There are many knowledgeable people on here who maybe going through or have gone through the same thing as I am.
When your body just reacts to ways you've never experienced before, it's not over thinking. Retching for no reason at all is not over thinking.
The major change is that I've drastically reduced dosage far too quick.
Drs are not always correct.
I'm just looking for a bit of guidance from someone who maybe in the field of meds. |
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Hey OP...it doesn't hurt to talk be it a swingers site or not. There may be those that can offer help or be of comfort.
You can control your come down. Yes..even of you did have a slight withdrawal...you're over the worst now.
I'd say until proved otherwise trust in your doctor.
I know how crippling pain can be. I once had stenosis and oh my god the pain was all consuming and relentless.
I feel for you!
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Never been on pregablin but have had withdrawals from other drugs. I personally think you’ve tapered it too quickly even though 35 days is short term, you were taking the maximum dose.
If you’re wanting to stay on the 100mg just now, do that. If you were going to get withdrawals you would have had them by now.
When yo decide to come off completely, I’d do the last 100mg over a couple weeks increasing the amount of days in between so your body & pain threshold gets used to it. Say every other day for 3 days, then every second day for 3 days, every 3rd day and so on, til you’re taking one a week then you should be able to just stop.
I did this on Citalopram (antidepressant) I was on them for 18 months. Took me 3 weeks to get off them.
If you want to chat privately feel free to PM me |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Hold on.. you’re skeptical of what a fully trained GP said… so you make a thread on a swinging site to a bunch of random strangers?!?
You’re over thinking bud! "
No she’s not. And we are not just swingers, everyone on here has life experiences.
Bah humbug to you! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Hold on.. you’re skeptical of what a fully trained GP said… so you make a thread on a swinging site to a bunch of random strangers?!?
You’re over thinking bud!
No she’s not. And we are not just swingers, everyone on here has life experiences.
Bah humbug to you! "
She? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Hold on.. you’re skeptical of what a fully trained GP said… so you make a thread on a swinging site to a bunch of random strangers?!?
You’re over thinking bud!
No she’s not. And we are not just swingers, everyone on here has life experiences.
Bah humbug to you!
She?"
He.. autocorrect  |
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Hey OP, withdrawing off anything can be really crap so if you can taper slower. I withdrew off the sister drug along with tramadol and others, after 1 1/2 years use at maximum dose and was very very poorly. Withdrawal is very real. Listen to your doctor, it’s safe to come off it but even short term use may have some side effects. |
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By *hilloutMan
over a year ago
All over the place! Northwesr, , Southwest |
Unfortunately these drugs, while useful, can have serious side effects on some, including what you've described on weaning down the dosage.
That nerve root compression must be severe for your symptoms to be unbearable despite a high dosage of analgesia. I've seen many a patient with similar and this can be very dramatic at times.
Hope you get better soon Op  |
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By *ensualMan
over a year ago
Sutton |
I am on pregablin for back pain. I am down to a maintenance dose but I took over a year to taper down. Not so much concerned about the withdrawal symptoms as having the horrendous pain coming back. I am going very slowly because 3 years ago I went cold turkey and had no withdrawal symptoms, but the return of the pain was like a knife in the back again and the pregablin took 2 weeks to take effect when I restarted the dose. Good Luck |
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