Hi,
Just wondered how soon before bed everyone takes their Pregabalin? I’m having problems sleeping since I started taking it and the earliest I get to sleep these days is 2am! I have found if I take it late afternoon, I will feel tired by 11ish, but the downside is, it’s too close to the morning dose and I feel very sick and disorientated.
Thanks
Fizzy x
Not something that I have found with pregabalin personally, but insomnia can be a side effect of a lot of meds. Maybe have a look on www.drugs.com for pregabalin side effects to see if insomnia is listed? If it’s a side effect, it should wear off, but if it doesn’t, maybe ask for an alternative? Or maybe reduce the dose in the morning? There’s a lot of trial and error with meds 
Karen x
Thanks for your reply Karen.
I couldn’t see insomnia listed on drugs.com, so googled it and it appears 1% of people have reported it as a side effect.
If I’m honest, I don’t think Pregabalin is for me and I should probably stop taking it, but trying to get through the side effects as I’m going back to work in 2 weeks (or rather I’m feeling pressured into going back before I’m ready) and don’t feel 2 weeks give me enough time to try an alternative.
Do you know what alternatives are available? I have tried Gapabentin and had to stop that, as I had memory loss. Also taken Amitriptylene, but stopped that to see if was interacting with the Pregabalin.
Thanks
Fizzy x
I take 300mg in the morning around 8 ish and the other 300mg at 8.30 pm or thereabouts, must admit I’m not really tired and don’t usually go to bed until midnight but usually sleep. How long have you been takng pregabalin , you need to give it a good go it does work. ALso don’t feel pressurised to go back to work if your not feeling up to it, if you have a sick note don’t worry you will only end up being off again because you’ve gone back too soon.
Thanks for your reply. I have been taking Pregabalin for about 6 weeks now and it took me 4 weeks to get over feeling sick, dizzy and wiped out on it. I started on 50mg twice a day and last week I increased it to 100mg twice a day. I think maybe taking the morning dose earlier might help then, but I’m letting myself wake up naturally at the moment with the children being off school and not waking up until very late!
I really don’t feel ready to go back to work, but started to feel under pressure to return…I’m getting stressed with the thoughts of having to go to another formal meeting, so just feel I might as well get on with it and see how it goes. I did want to feel much better than this before I return, or at least get my meds sorted, but my GP thinks that it’s possible I might not get any better than I am now, although he is quite willing to give me another sick note, so that doesn’t worry me.
Thanks
Fizzy x
If it took you that long to get over side effects at 100mg a day, then I would think that doubling the dose in one go is too big a step. If I were you, I would go back to 50mg in the morning and see how that goes. Are you having a phased return to work? Remember that MS is covered by the Equality Act - get some help from Access to Work if your employer isn’t being properly supportive, and rushing you back before you’re fit is far from being supportive! It took me a long time to get my pregabalin worked out, but it works really well now so I’d recommend trying a bit longer. Alternatives you might try are antidepressants (eg citalopram) and maybe carbamazepine, but your MS nurse would be much better than me to advise. Good luck. Kx
Thanks for your reply Karen.
I wasn’t entirely sure I was doing the right thing by doubling the dose in one go, but couldn’t remember what my GP had told me to do and couldn’t ring him with it being Christmas…think I will make notes next time
I am having a phased return to work, but still feeling rushed…they are doing everything right on paper, but then harrassing me by phone. Anyway, I have told them that now and not had a reply back yet…maybe it wasn’t the right thing to say! Wondered if I should contact Occupational Health for advice. Will look into Access to Work too.
I will stick with the Pregablin a bit longer then, thanks for the advice.
Thanks
Fizzy x