Hello Paula, I only wish I could have got off the pregabalin myself earlier so I could have answered your question in better time. I hope you managed to get off the drug and are feeling much better for it.
I was taking the full dose of this awful drug for years, along with naproxen and tramadol. Years passed, doctors seemed happy to keep on prescribing and only pharmacists questioned me being on so much. This was when I questioned it too.
I have disc bulges in my neck, one impinges on the C7 nerve root, this is the cause of a lot of pain, muscle spasms and numbness. Consultants say it isn't an emergency situation, therefore they do not offer surgery. Whether I want surgery is another story.
Anyway, I thought it was time to try and go drug free to make sure I knew how much pain I was really in and whether the meds were as necessary as I thought they were, and indeed doctors thought they were.
I had many side effects with pregabalin, including dizziness, drowsiness, being off-balanced, blurred vision, leg swelling, finger swelling, and most irritating of all not being able to form proper sentences.
So on a whim I started my yoga again, bought lots of vitamin supplements, changed my diet, cut out caffeine and went cold turkey off the lot!
It was weird, so much more pain at first than I expected, I felt close to giving up, but I am strong so stuck with it. I questioned whether I was in pain because the drugs were wearing off and they perhaps were making life more bearable. And now I wasn't taking anything my life was going to be unbearable....but that was not true.
It got better, but after quite a few weeks. I went through severe itching, pain all over, foggy headed, confused (although the pills did that anyway), I felt detached, and I felt very low.
After a few weeks on my new healthy lifestyle I started to notice a difference, the pain wasn't as bad as it was before I started all the pills, and I feel more positive, I think more clearly. My eye sight seems better, my thoughts are more positive, and although I still have pain, I find I can tolerate it more now…who would have thought?
I even think that due to my stress levels and anxiety over my sudden deteriorating health a few years back, the pain was worse because of my state of mind. I think I must have been too frightened to stop taking these drugs before, addicted I am not sure. If you get addicted to these drugs, it is more about the anxiety of being in the awful pain again. But I am no expert so couldn't say for sure.
One thing is for sure, after taking pills for a long period of time you need to take a break to see if your condition has in fact improved, I believe after time our bodies can fight pain more effectively without the crutch of pills, of course not for everyone, but a lot of people can find relief through other means. Try yoga, relaxation, massage, walking, laughter therapy, tens machine, heat/ice when pain is bad. But pills become a real problem when we come to rely on them as our bodies are not naturally fighting the pain as they should, we just rely on the pills, until we don't even know if we are in pain because of our condition, or the pills are making us ache all over as a side effect. It is well documented that the human body is amazing and can get over some pretty debilitating conditions, or at least find ways to live with them a little better.
I am not in as much pain, I took a risk going cold turkey, but it paid off. I went through hell, but it made me stronger. Now I am going to try with every ounce of my being to live with this condition, kick it into touch with positive thinking and a healthy fun lifestyle.
I really would advise anyone on this drug to try weaning off it, you never know, you might feel a lot better. Just like with everything in life, give it a little time. Don't panic if you get symptoms, just know it really does get easier. Keep in touch with other people in the same boat, even if it is a few lines on forums like this, with a little support and positive thinking anything is possible.
I wish you and other sufferers of pain all the best of luck with your journey through this wonderful life.