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- Mar 9, 2005
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- 33,317
So, I've been prescribed pregabalin for sciatic nerve pain and a few other similar nerve issues; basically, the entire right side of my body is fucked. I've had issues with neuralgia and I get migraines, all of which are thought to have some connection. The major issue is sciatica though, and I have been prescribed 150mg twice a day for this. It seems to be helping but I have some concerns.
Going on ten years ago, I got addicted to benzos for PTSD/anxiety and was addicted for 3-4 years, and the withdrawal I went through was insane. Literally, I was psychotic, blacking-out, having seizures, from regular partial/absent seizures to more grand mal type, hallucinating, mania/depression. Please don't read any of my posts from that period, I take no responsibility for them. I tapered from high doses of diazepam and the taper was gentle and gradual. The theory behind why my withdrawal was so intense is likely due to kindling of the CNS; I have mild epilepsy that was a lot more severe when I was a young child, and so I was given multiple different anticonvulsants including GABAergic ones at this stage in my life. I basically stopped having large seizures when I was 11 but continued (and continue) to have absent seizures. These become minimal until I went through benzo w/d in my lateish 20's. It seems my CNS was probably primed to cease GABA production or whatever it is that happens during benzo use. Any dose reduction saw me in outer space. I've not read of many people experiencing withdrawal on such a scale. Lucky me.
I'm clean of benzo's though I'd use occasionally. I've come to realise I cannot really even do that; I was gifted some diazepam and etizolam about 18 months ago and stayed on it for 1.5 weeks and experiencing a return of my withdrawal, though significantly less. This has continued every time I take benzos for more than 2 days- I need to do a basic brief taper to reduce the chance of kindling based w/d but I still get rebound weirdness. Basically, I've stopped taking benzo's. Good move right. The second last time I took temazepam, I had a progressive 'twitch' moving from my big toe up my leg. It stopped twitching.
My major question with pregabalin is whether using it consistently will cause a kindling effect.
I've reason to believe it will. I've been taking it for about 2 weeks; I tried a few high doses and got that drunk, weird feeling which I don't especially like so do not plan to continue doing that, and will use it at therepeutic levels. Anyway, its making me nervous, so I decided to stop for 2 days and see what happened. At the end of the first day I experienced some very odd symptoms that I did not anticipate; racing thoughts, cramping muscles, a feeling of trippiness, body pains, some anxiety. This increased until I took 150mg. The symptoms seemed to subside, but then I was getting very concerned and had to work so I took 20mg of temazepam after which I felt pretty much fine. I have continued to take prescribed doses of pregabalin and do not not plan to take any further high doses. Well, maybe every now and then.
Is pregabalin GABAergic? Is it cross-tolerant with benzo's? Will withdrawal from pregabalin cause kindling of the CNS due to my past addiction/s?
Basically, I'm think this medication is not for me, but my doctor claims it is non-addictive. And yet, the packaging of the medication tells me not to cease use abruptly. He's a shitty doctor.
There is a huge chance I am being paranoid and anxious.
Clearly, I am not an advanced drug neuroscientist but I am really curious about any information you guys will have re my situation.
My last question would be whether Gabapentin is a safer option for me. I simply cannot go through this experience again, it totally derailed my life.
Thanks in advance.
Going on ten years ago, I got addicted to benzos for PTSD/anxiety and was addicted for 3-4 years, and the withdrawal I went through was insane. Literally, I was psychotic, blacking-out, having seizures, from regular partial/absent seizures to more grand mal type, hallucinating, mania/depression. Please don't read any of my posts from that period, I take no responsibility for them. I tapered from high doses of diazepam and the taper was gentle and gradual. The theory behind why my withdrawal was so intense is likely due to kindling of the CNS; I have mild epilepsy that was a lot more severe when I was a young child, and so I was given multiple different anticonvulsants including GABAergic ones at this stage in my life. I basically stopped having large seizures when I was 11 but continued (and continue) to have absent seizures. These become minimal until I went through benzo w/d in my lateish 20's. It seems my CNS was probably primed to cease GABA production or whatever it is that happens during benzo use. Any dose reduction saw me in outer space. I've not read of many people experiencing withdrawal on such a scale. Lucky me.
I'm clean of benzo's though I'd use occasionally. I've come to realise I cannot really even do that; I was gifted some diazepam and etizolam about 18 months ago and stayed on it for 1.5 weeks and experiencing a return of my withdrawal, though significantly less. This has continued every time I take benzos for more than 2 days- I need to do a basic brief taper to reduce the chance of kindling based w/d but I still get rebound weirdness. Basically, I've stopped taking benzo's. Good move right. The second last time I took temazepam, I had a progressive 'twitch' moving from my big toe up my leg. It stopped twitching.
My major question with pregabalin is whether using it consistently will cause a kindling effect.
I've reason to believe it will. I've been taking it for about 2 weeks; I tried a few high doses and got that drunk, weird feeling which I don't especially like so do not plan to continue doing that, and will use it at therepeutic levels. Anyway, its making me nervous, so I decided to stop for 2 days and see what happened. At the end of the first day I experienced some very odd symptoms that I did not anticipate; racing thoughts, cramping muscles, a feeling of trippiness, body pains, some anxiety. This increased until I took 150mg. The symptoms seemed to subside, but then I was getting very concerned and had to work so I took 20mg of temazepam after which I felt pretty much fine. I have continued to take prescribed doses of pregabalin and do not not plan to take any further high doses. Well, maybe every now and then.
Is pregabalin GABAergic? Is it cross-tolerant with benzo's? Will withdrawal from pregabalin cause kindling of the CNS due to my past addiction/s?
Basically, I'm think this medication is not for me, but my doctor claims it is non-addictive. And yet, the packaging of the medication tells me not to cease use abruptly. He's a shitty doctor.
There is a huge chance I am being paranoid and anxious.
Clearly, I am not an advanced drug neuroscientist but I am really curious about any information you guys will have re my situation.
My last question would be whether Gabapentin is a safer option for me. I simply cannot go through this experience again, it totally derailed my life.
Thanks in advance.