Gabapentin/Pregabalin/Pramipexole

[Eve]

I've been reading up a lot on things to help fibromyalgia and to reduce pain and have seen that these drugs are sometimes used to help.

I usually take potential side effects with a bit of a pinch of salt but had read about some horrible side effects being quite common (and lingering after treatment and the drugs being sometimes difficult to stop) in some of the above drugs which can be used to help, especially Pregabalin.

Thought I'd see if anyone know much about them or has tried them as part of some more research before I speak to my GP about possibilities. I'm trying to weigh up better whether they are a good option and whether any likely side effects would outweigh the benefit of pain relief.

[Sqad]

Not my area of expertise, but from what i know, the main indication for pain relief is for neuralgic pain and as such fibromyalgia doesn't fit the bill.
Neuralgic pain such as post herpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy .....but not fibromyalgia.

Scientific studies on their action and side effects seem to be limited.

That's my lot on the subject.

[Eve]

Thanks Sqad, I really value your input. I saw them on proper medical sites for treatment options and after the initial "ooh maybe there is hope!" I read into them a bit more and saw what else they are for and how heavy duty so I was quite surprised myself.

I didn't want to blindly just mention a drug name I've seen as a possible help without being more informed. Much as I'd love to at least be able to sit comfortably at work it seems a bit sledgehammer to crack a nut (in my case anyway) and not sure some of the horrific side effects I've read about would be worth that if there are other better options.

[bednobs]

jenna have you ever been referred to a pain clinic?

[Eve]

Hi bednobs, no I haven't though that's a good idea though! I'll mention it to my GP, see if she can help or I need to ring my rhumatology nurse.

I'm off the evil sulfasalazine and on hydroxychroloquine now so hoping that helps more and I can stay on it long enough to get some benefit. Rhumo mentioned methotrexate too though hoping to be able to settle on this one for now at least, especially after the problems I had with sulfasalazine. Restarting physio too on Wednesday and making the most of having lots of holiday days left to work shorter weeks. Hoping I can get myself better enough to get myself out swimming again to see if that helps too.

[mrs_overall]

Jenna, Pramipexole is a drug which is normally prescribed to treat Parkinson's, to control the tremors. I am prescribed it for severe problems with restless legs.
I can't really see how it would help fibromyalgia

[Eve]

Thanks Mrs O, I was trying to work that out too. I found something about them thinking it was some kind of skewed response with the pain receptors and maybe something nerve related but it all got a bit too sciency for me!

My legs get evil though I've found taking a codydramol before I go to bed helps me to get to sleep without them driving me insane.

Still hoping the evil shoulderblade pain will go away - it came back after I had my gallbladder out. Nothing really gets shot of it, diclofenac did before but doesn't help now. Wondering if it is maybe something muscular and if physio can help it. If still gallbladder related (though not sure how given I don't have one anymore) then not sure what could help. Am hoping it will just sod off if things settle though just over 2 months on from op now.

Have resorted to wrapping a big piece of lint round my bra strap at the back to cushion it and trying to cushion my back between my work chair but still not helping much. Driving me doolally!

[mrs_overall]

Awww, sorry to hear that.
Pramipexole does not work on pain receptors.
I'm no medic but I was wondering if the shoulder pain is a referred pain? If you've had your gall bladder out could it be something like adhesions that are causing a referred pain in the shoulderblade?
I'll wait for Sqad to turn up and soot my theory down in flames!

[mrs_overall]

*shoot* not soot!

[sunny-dave]

I presume you've been round the Cox-2 anti-inflammatory route (etoricoxib/arcoxia etc).

I wouldn't want to use them all the time, but they sorted my long standing muscle and joint pain and I just use them occasionally if it flares up again.

[mumsie_wumsie]

Hi, like MrsO I take pramipexole for restless legs. I do not think they would help with your problem. I think the best advice is the pain Clinic s already suggested. Hope you find some relief soon...

[Eve]

No, never tried anything like that Dave. Thanks Mumsiewumsie and Mrs O again (and Dave :)), I think pain clinic may well be the way to go.

My GP diaried to give me a call to see how my rhumo appointment went on Friday and need to speak to her to get my Vitamin D meds and about trying naproxen which my rhumo suggested so will have a chat with her about it.

[Eve]

Spoke with my GP earlier and she wants to see how I go on the hydroxychloroquine for now (and meds for other conditions) so as not to overload with tablets and see what is working. She also hasn't got the letter from my last rhumo appointment so probably see what is said in that.

She sorted my Vitamin D meds, she said my levels are very low (22) and they have put me on stronger meds than last time (Dekristol 20,000) so hopefully they will help - wondering if bone pain is adding to the general pain as as well as my fibromyalgia pain score being high a lot of my bones feel tender when pressed, especially down the front of my lower legs and upper arms and maybe the pelvic pain.

Hopefully that will get rid of some of the pain :)

[mrs_overall]

My fingers are crossed for you that the new meds will help xx

[Greedyfly]

I have tried both Gabapentin and Pregababalin for a long term pain problem and both gave me no relief to be honest and the usual side effects so I stopped use. I had nothing shocking with regards to side effects as you say a lot you just take with a pinch of salt. I prefer the pain to the way some pain killers make me feel. For example my gp recently prescribed me the BUTRANS patch which is a patch you wear for a week and it releases medication all day whilst the pain relief was good the side effects were horrendous so again I stopped using it. But it is different for all people, so you never know. I had my above drugs prescribed by a pain clinic and whilst the lady I see is very sympathetic so far she has not been able to find me a drug that works and doesn't cause me too many problems whilst I take it - but I am a difficult patient with drugs. Im currently trying Acupuncture for pain relief and so far nothing but I am only a few goes into it so you never know. My GP is beginning to lost hope with me with regards to drugs as I have tried so many of them now and they either help but make me really ill or they don't work at all. Unfortunately as I am sure you know it takes a lot of trying things out to see how it does before eventually you will get the relief you need, I hope. It might be worth looking into the BUTRANS patch, you never know it might be just what you need. Im pretty sure it isn't widely used here as I did a fair bit of reading up about it before I started it. I know it is a controlled substance in some countries. The plus side to the patch is you never get the peaks and troughs you sometimes get with tablets as it releases all day, plus its one less tablet to take lol. Hope you find something soon, it is really hard when your in pain all day every day!

[Eve]

Thanks both. I think a pain clinic is definitely something to look to in the future, sounds like lots of things that may help. I think it might be easier when things generally settle down a bit so I can concentrate more on one thing rather than lots of things playing up and causing problems. I really appreciate all your input.

[shoota]

Stay away from Gabapentin if there is any other alternative, the side effects from it were life changing for me and it took a long while to shake them off.
I took a Gabapentin/Carbamazepine cocktail which made me feel like I was drowning in sludge.
When I stopped the Gabapentin and just took Carbamazepine alone I found no change whatsoever in the beneficial effects so, for me, Gabapentin was a waste of time.
Can't speak for the others you mention.