- Title: Pregabalin Withdrawal
- Authored by Philippa Gold
- Edited by Hugh Soames
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Pregabalin Withdrawal
Pregabalin Withdrawal
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Pregabalin Withdrawal
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Pregabalin Withdrawal
What is Pregabalin
Pregabalin is one of the most widely abused drugs in North America and Worldwide. Addiction is nothing now, but what is new is the super worrying trend of increasing deaths due to Pregabalin overdose. In part, this can be said to be due to a number of factors such as:
- Lack of education around Pregabalin
- Increase in Pharmaceutical Prescriptions generally
- A failure of Governments worldwide to do enough to stop Pregabalin addiction and related deaths
- Societal thinking regarding addicts and Pregabalin addiction
- Lack of Harm Reduction methods around Pregabalin usage
- Lack of addiction related education in the medical professional
Further reading about Pregabalin from around the web
Pregabalin, sold under the brand name Lyrica among others, is an anticonvulsant, analgesic and anxiolytic medication used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, opioid withdrawal and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Pregabalin also has antiallodynic properties. Its use in epilepsy is as an add-on therapy for partial seizures. It is a gabapentinoid medication and acts by inhibiting certain calcium channels. When used before surgery, it reduces pain but results in greater sedation and visual disturbances. It is taken by mouth.
Common side effects include headache, dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, trouble with memory, poor coordination, dry mouth, problems with vision, and weight gain. Serious side effects may include angioedema, drug misuse, and an increased suicide risk. When pregabalin is taken at high doses over a long period of time, addiction may occur, but if taken at usual doses the risk is low. Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is of unclear safety.
What Are Pregabalin Withdrawal Symptoms?
Withdrawal from Pregabalin is a serious matter. The effects on the body from Pregabalin use is extreme, and because of these effects Pregabalin withdrawal can very quickly become an acute medical emergency. Withdrawal from Pregabalin can cause a hypertensive crisis or myocardial infraction. In other words, a stroke or heart attack caused by sudden stoppage in taking Pregabalin or respiratory distress syndrome whereby your body shuts down from the lungs and respiratory system outwards. Pregabalin withdrawal can also lead to serious anxiety and mental health related issues.
Never in any circumstances underestimate the seriousness of Pregabalin withdrawal1https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2891684/. If you are withdrawing from Pregabalin it is advisable to seek medical attention and in the case of medical emergency from Pregabalin withdrawal do not hesitate to head to the nearest Emergency Room.
Pregabalin withdrawal will vary for everyone and will be affected by several factors. The length and severity of Pregabalin use with be one of the main predictors of withdrawal symptoms and intensity. With Pregabalin withdrawal, it’s impossible to accurately predict how an individual will react to withdrawal.
Pregabalin Withdrawal Timeline
Full Pregabalin withdrawal often takes seven to fourteen days but sometimes longer, and the Pregabalin withdrawal symptoms are categorized according to their severity.
There are no minor symptoms of Pregabalin withdrawal. The first symptoms to exhibit themselves, usually 3-12 hours after Pregabalin withdrawal starts proper are headaches, tremors, sweating, itching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and total confusion with anxiety or depression.
These are followed relatively quickly by the next stage in Pregabalin withdrawal timeline by:
- Insomnia
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
- Tremors
- Anxiety
- Digestive discomfort
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Panic attacks
- Muscle pain
- Psychosis
- Delirium tremens
- Relapse
Worryingly, every time an individual attempts Pregabalin withdrawal the severity of symptoms tends to increase.
Pregabalin withdrawal has a mortality rate of between three and 19 per cent, depending on seriousness of Pregabalin usage.
Withdrawal from Pregabalin is a physically demanding process, in which the body will utilize every means possible to remove toxins, while creating psychological challenges because of the changes to the individuals brain chemistry.
Pregabalin Detox Process
The severity of Pregabalin detox makes it a process that should be approached carefully. Pregabalin Detox, especially for those with a heavy or long-lasting Pregabalin dependency, produces a range of symptoms and in extreme cases withdrawal can be fatal. However much they may want to end their addiction to Pregabalin, it’s vital to seek medical advice and enlist the support of their loved ones.
Pregabalin Withdrawal at a Rehab
Detoxing from Pregabalin within a treatment facility ensures medical help if it’s needed during the treatment process. Because Pregabalin rebound is a significant danger during withdrawal, having medical personnel present 24-hours a day can mean an instant response to any hypertensive or life-threatening crisis that may occur as a professional tapering process lowers the chances of patients experiencing fatal episodes.
Pregabalin withdrawal and detox begins with an initial medical exam to determine the patient’s physical condition upon entry into the rehab. This pre-detox Pregabalin withdrawal period can last up to 24 hours, as medical personnel determines both the patient’s general medical condition and drug history.
Detoxification of the patient’s body from Pregabalin begins after the pre-detox period ends. Medically assisted or tapered withdrawal from Pregabalin can take up to a few weeks to complete.
Rapid Detox from Pregabalin
Rapid detox from Pregabalin is a controversial topic and one that is unlikely to be accepted by everyone for its positive uses. It is a concept that has helped individuals addicted to Pregabalin and other drugs kick the habit and gain the help they need to live a healthier lifestyle.
A patient undergoing a rapid detox from Pregabalin is put under anesthesia for up to six hours. During this time, an opioid antagonist drug such as naltrexone is used to remove the Pregabalin from the patient’s body. Rapid detox can alleviate some of the more distressing symptoms of Pregabalin withdrawal.
The Pregabalin rapid detox method is used to stop a patient from feeling the devastating effects of Pregabalin withdrawal. Sedating the patient and putting them under anaesthesia allows them to “sleep” through the initial heavy Pregabalin withdrawal and detox process. The hope is that after the rapid detox process, the patient will wake up with their body completely clean of Pregabalin. The remainder of the withdrawal process will be minimal enabling the person to get on with the rehab process. Throughout rapid detox, the patient is monitored to ensure safety.
Does Pregabalin Rapid Detox Help Withdrawal Symptoms?
Experts claim that rapid detox from Pregabalin is a safe way to cleanse the body. It is also more pleasant as individuals who go through Pregabalin withdrawal can experience shakes, sweats, nausea, and other issues for long periods.
Pregabalin withdrawal can take weeks to fully complete. However, rapid detox from Pregabalin can take only a few days to a week at most. While the process of undergoing anaesthesia is just a few hours, Pregabalin detox patients can be kept in a medical clinic for monitoring afterwards. The process enables a patient to get – for many – the most difficult and frightening part of rehab out of the way. Once completed, patients can focus on the mental and emotional side of recovery.
For most Pregabalin addicts, the biggest barrier of attending rehab is withdrawal. The pain and distress Pregabalin withdrawal can have on a person can drive them back to using. Therefore, limiting or stopping a person’s physical Pregabalin withdrawal symptoms allows them to focus on making a full recovery.
By completing a residential rehab program following rapid detox, individuals can fully recover from their Pregabalin addiction.
Pregabalin combinations with other drugs and alcohol
Pregabalin and other drugs and alcohol
If you are going through withdrawal of Pregabalin and are also taking any of these as well, you can find out more information.