Therapy can help whether your goal is to reduce, to stop, or to understand why you rely on them.
What this covers
Pregabalin and gabapentin are prescribed for conditions including epilepsy and nerve pain, and are Class C controlled drugs. Some people become dependent on them, whether they were prescribed them or not. It is illegal to possess them without a prescription or to give them to someone else.
Signs use may be becoming a problem
- Needing more to get the same effect
- Taking them for longer, or in larger amounts, than prescribed
- Taking them without a prescription
- Feeling anxious, unable to sleep or unwell when you miss a dose
- Worrying about running out
Stopping safely and mixing: read this
Stopping suddenly can cause serious problems, even if you feel better. Withdrawal can bring anxiety, poor sleep, nausea, pain and sweating, and for people with epilepsy a sudden stop may cause seizures that do not let up. Reducing gradually can prevent these effects, and any change should be discussed with your prescriber first.
Both medicines can cause drowsiness and, potentially, fatal slowing of the breathing. The risk is greatest when they are combined with opioids or alcohol; see polydrug use.
- If you are prescribed them, ask your prescriber about reducing gradually.
- Call 999 if you or someone else has a seizure or cannot be woken, or if their breathing is very slow.
Support you can get alongside therapy
Therapy sits alongside medical care, not instead of it. How to get treatment without going through your GP, and where to find helplines.
What therapy can offer
- Working out what they do for you (calm, pain relief, switching off) and what else could do some of that work
- Practical ways to cope with anxiety, pain and sleep as you reduce
- Support alongside medical care; therapy works with a reduction plan, not instead of one
Confidentiality
Worried about your job or your driving licence? What I report, and what stays between us.
If it is someone you love
It can be hard to watch someone rely on a medicine they were given to help. Support for families and loved ones.
Short answers to common questions
Can I have therapy while I am still prescribed them?
Yes. Therapy can sit alongside your prescribed treatment, and I would encourage you not to change the dose without speaking to your prescriber.
Can you get addicted to pregabalin or gabapentin?
Yes. The NHS says some people can become addicted to either medicine, and that signs include finding it hard to stop or feeling you need more than you were prescribed. It says to talk to your doctor if you are worried about becoming dependent. You do not have to wait for a crisis; I can help you look at what the medicine does for you, alongside that conversation.
What are pregabalin and gabapentin withdrawal symptoms?
For pregabalin, the NHS lists panic attacks, palpitations, trouble sleeping, shaking, sweating and restlessness. For gabapentin it adds anxiety and body aches. The NHS says withdrawal seizures and other symptoms can be prevented by reducing the dose gradually, which is why it says not to stop without talking to your doctor. If you are unsure whether symptoms are withdrawal or your original problem returning, your prescriber is the person to ask.
Can I drive on pregabalin or gabapentin?
The NHS says not to drive, cycle or use machinery or tools if either medicine makes you sleepy, dizzy or unable to concentrate, until you feel better, and not to drive if you are in any doubt. It also says it is an offence to drive if your ability to drive safely is affected. If you have epilepsy, there are separate driving rules, so check them with your doctor.
How long do people usually take pregabalin or gabapentin for?
It depends on why you take it. The NHS says people with epilepsy usually continue for many years. For pregabalin in nerve pain or anxiety, it says to continue for several months to stop symptoms coming back, and for gabapentin in nerve pain, several months or longer. It also says not to stop suddenly, even if you feel better. If you want to review how long you have been on it, start with your prescriber.
Is pregabalin or gabapentin bought without a prescription safe?
FRANK says the purity of pregabalin on the black market is uncertain, because it may have been diverted from pharmacies or hospitals, so you cannot be sure what you are taking. It also lists gabapentin as prescription-only. If a prescription has ended and you are buying it yourself, you can still come to me; it is also worth telling a doctor or drug service so you are not managing it alone.