I have been prescribed Pregabalin for "pain relief". 50 mg before sleeping. This is post-operation for reattachment of a tendon. It seems to have the effect of making me sleep heavily and giving me a bit of a stomach ache.

 

However, the pain is not much and, in addition, I have also been prescribed tramadol for pain relief. 25 mg twice a day and dexketoprofen, an anti-inflammatory, 75 mg twice a day. There are also antibiotics, benzodiazepines (not taking these), calcium tablets and vitamin B supplements.

 

Is the Pregabalin necessary? Or is this over-prescription, the "bag of pills" syndrome? I think I will stop taking them as I can't see them being necessary in my situation.

Don't take it tonight and see how you feel

1 minute ago, Slowhand225 said:

Don't take it tonight and see how you feel

That is what I will do.

6 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

I have been prescribed Pregabalin for "pain relief". 50 mg before sleeping. This is post-operation for reattachment of a tendon. It seems to have the effect of making me sleep heavily and giving me a bit of a stomach ache.

 

However, the pain is not much and, in addition, I have also been prescribed tramadol for pain relief. 25 mg twice a day and dexketoprofen, an anti-inflammatory, 75 mg twice a day. There are also antibiotics, benzodiazepines (not taking these), calcium tablets and vitamin B supplements.

 

Is the Pregabalin necessary? Or is this over-prescription, the "bag of pills" syndrome? I think I will stop taking them as I can't see them being necessary in my situation.

I'd say it's not necessary. You have tramadol plus an anti-inflammitory as well.

My feeling with pain related meds is you only take them if you have to.

Me I'd try and stop the tramadol as well and only use the anti-inflammitory, or stop the anti-inflammitory and continue the tramadol. 

If you can handle the pain then just take one.

The anti-inflammitories have a habit of giving stomach problems so you might need to take a stomach acid reduction pill as well.

Tramadol makes me itchy so I take an anti-histimine tab if I take tramadol.

What you've been prescribed is what many doctors do, some with dire results. Sometimes they don't look into the side effects or listen to their patients complaining and add on things that aren't very compatible.

 

I saw this with my ex wife, who complained of pain much of her life. Eventually they removed her colon because her gastro system was slowed by a combination of a few different pain killers. At one time or another, they had her on Morphine, Dilaudid, Fentanyl and Vicodin. Two of these at a time, where one is more than enough for daily pain. She complained of having pain after awhile, so they gave her the other for "breakthrough" pain.

 

She could have died many times over with what she was given. She did die 2 years ago from a heart attack, very likely brought on my too many drugs in her system. She was also on heart medicine, and one for Lupus and fibromyalgia.

 

Many times I tried to talk her out of taking so much but she believed in her doctors, of course. Pregabalin has many side effects, which a link I'll provide will show. You've said the pain is not much, and if you can handle it, it's always best not to take more than you need. Tramadol is enough, especially along with an anti-inflammatory. I have daily pain from over working my muscles weight lifting so many years, but I don't like to take anything besides Paracetamol, as many are hard on the stomach  Look at the drug interactions, as it lists taking Tramadol with Pregabalin isn't good..................https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/pregabalin-oral-route/description/drg-20067411.

2 minutes ago, carlyai said:

I'd say it's not necessary. You have tramadol plus an anti-inflammitory as well.

My feeling with pain related meds is you only take them if you have to.

Me I'd try and stop the tramadol as well and only use the anti-inflammitory, or stop the anti-inflammitory and continue the tramadol. 

If you can handle the pain then just take one.

The anti-inflammitories have a habit of giving stomach problems so you might need to take a stomach acid reduction pill as well.

Tramadol makes me itchy so I take an anti-histimine tab if I take tramadol.

Beat me by a horse's length lol

6 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Beat me by a horse's length lol

'It wasn't the Almighty that lifted the nighty, it was Roger the Lodger the Sod'.

Gotta be quick. 🙂

1 minute ago, carlyai said:

'It wasn't the Almighty that lifted the nighty, it was Roger the Lodger the Sod'.

Gotta be quick. 🙂

I type with two fingers, so it takes awhile.

44 minutes ago, carlyai said:

Me I'd try and stop the tramadol as well and only use the anti-inflammitory, or stop the anti-inflammitory and continue the tramadol. 

Yes, I suspected there was overkill here. Unfortunately, the tramadol / anti-inflammatory is an all-in-one pill.

 

So I will stop the Pregabalin and consider reducing the tramadol / anti-inflammatory combination pill to one a day or two half-pills. 

They gave you Bezos with Tramadol and some others?

Here, I have been prescribed many pills for something minor.  Then, I looked them up and and a couple had drug interactions.   Do they check this or just give people as many as possible? 

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

I have been prescribed Pregabalin for "pain relief". 50 mg before sleeping. This is post-operation for reattachment of a tendon. It seems to have the effect of making me sleep heavily and giving me a bit of a stomach ache.

 

However, the pain is not much and, in addition, I have also been prescribed tramadol for pain relief. 25 mg twice a day and dexketoprofen, an anti-inflammatory, 75 mg twice a day. There are also antibiotics, benzodiazepines (not taking these), calcium tablets and vitamin B supplements.

 

Is the Pregabalin necessary? Or is this over-prescription, the "bag of pills" syndrome? I think I will stop taking them as I can't see them being necessary in my situation.

 

Your description seems to mix up the different dosages and medications.

Specifically, you seem to confuse Tramadol and its dosage with dexketoprofen and it's dosage. 

(You are probably taking 75mg Tramadol in a fixed combination with 25mg dexketoprofen)

How sure are you about the pregabalin and it's dosage?

Under these circumstances, it's impossible to give advice. 

46 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Yes, I suspected there was overkill here. Unfortunately, the tramadol / anti-inflammatory is an all-in-one pill.

 

So I will stop the Pregabalin and consider reducing the tramadol / anti-inflammatory combination pill to one a day or two half-pills. 

If the tramadol etc is in 1 capsule you can't really just use half.

 

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

I have been prescribed Pregabalin for "pain relief". 50 mg before sleeping. This is post-operation for reattachment of a tendon. It seems to have the effect of making me sleep heavily and giving me a bit of a stomach ache.

 

However, the pain is not much and, in addition, I have also been prescribed tramadol for pain relief. 25 mg twice a day and dexketoprofen, an anti-inflammatory, 75 mg twice a day. There are also antibiotics, benzodiazepines (not taking these), calcium tablets and vitamin B supplements.

 

Is the Pregabalin necessary? Or is this over-prescription, the "bag of pills" syndrome? I think I will stop taking them as I can't see them being necessary in my situation.

A lot of medication.

Obviously also a lot of interactions and side effects.

Pregabalin is often used for epilepsy as a relaxation. ("Gaba") and common in Thailand.

As it is your body and your decision I advice you to call your Doc. Because he knows your case and history only.

 

13 minutes ago, Lorry said:

(You are probably taking 75mg Tramadol in a fixed combination with 25mg dexketoprofen)

You are correct. The hospital pharmacist typed the combination the wrong way round.

 

14 minutes ago, Lorry said:

How sure are you about the pregabalin and it's dosage?

100% sure. 

50 mg once a day before bedtime.

2 hours ago, Briggsy said:

I have been prescribed Pregabalin for "pain relief". 50 mg before sleeping. This is post-operation for reattachment of a tendon. It seems to have the effect of making me sleep heavily and giving me a bit of a stomach ache.

 

However, the pain is not much and, in addition, I have also been prescribed tramadol for pain relief. 25 mg twice a day and dexketoprofen, an anti-inflammatory, 75 mg twice a day. There are also antibiotics, benzodiazepines (not taking these), calcium tablets and vitamin B supplements.

 

Is the Pregabalin necessary? Or is this over-prescription, the "bag of pills" syndrome? I think I will stop taking them as I can't see them being necessary in my situation.

Please, are you serious? You are asking this on an online forum with 600 Know-it-all guys on booze and cannabis. You might want to take that up with the same person that gave you the prescription. Really?

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

she believed in her doctors

 

So many people have been debilitated or died because of this.

6 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Please, are you serious? You are asking this on an online forum with 600 Know-it-all guys on booze and cannabis. You might want to take that up with the same person that gave you the prescription. Really?

Doctors over prescribe every day and kill thousands every year . This is why he's uncertain about being given 3 medications, all who have side effects.

 

As adults, most of us have been prescribed medicines in our lives,and some have firsthand experience in what side effects do.

 

I saw my ex wife suffer because of an ignorant slew of doctors who kept giving her more and more, which shows that some plainly don't know what the hell they're doing and only go by books on prescribing, without looking at the possible dangers they are putting their patients in. History has proven this all along. Even a person with little knowledge on medicines can know that taking too many will surely have complications from interactions.

 

This is again why he's asking here. Granted, some might give advice that might not work, but taking too many meds can be more dangerous than taking just one or two, especially more so with just tackling pain.  Everyone's different on how they react to medicines, and some are allergic to some. Some can handle pain more than others, and taking two painkillers, along with an anti-inflammatory can be overkill. This isn't heart, diabetes, kidney or liver medicine, but just for pain. 

 

Doctors everywhere over prescribe, especially in a country that isn't as far ahead as those in the west. The same person that gave him three medications can be the last one to go back to. He'll just say the same things, or give you an alternate, which can be worse. Research on side effects is first, then you get a second opinion. 

51 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Doctors over prescribe every day and kill thousands every year . This is why he's uncertain about being given 3 medications, all who have side effects.

 

As adults, most of us have been prescribed medicines in our lives,and some have firsthand experience in what side effects do.

 

I saw my ex wife suffer because of an ignorant slew of doctors who kept giving her more and more, which shows that some plainly don't know what the hell they're doing and only go by books on prescribing, without looking at the possible dangers they are putting their patients in. History has proven this all along. Even a person with little knowledge on medicines can know that taking too many will surely have complications from interactions.

 

This is again why he's asking here. Granted, some might give advice that might not work, but taking too many meds can be more dangerous than taking just one or two, especially more so with just tackling pain.  Everyone's different on how they react to medicines, and some are allergic to some. Some can handle pain more than others, and taking two painkillers, along with an anti-inflammatory can be overkill. This isn't heart, diabetes, kidney or liver medicine, but just for pain. 

 

Doctors everywhere over prescribe, especially in a country that isn't as far ahead as those in the west. The same person that gave him three medications can be the last one to go back to. He'll just say the same things, or give you an alternate, which can be worse. Research on side effects is first, then you get a second opinion. 

Yeah, yeah, so you are back in my view? Couldn't keep away, right?

But, go ahead and self-medicate. Good on you Mr Knowitall. Just look below
 

 

51 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Granted, some might give advice that might not work

Yep, and Freddy´s advices are always top of the line, over par, fantastic and wonderful!

2 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, yeah, so you are back in my view? Couldn't keep away, right?

But, go ahead and self-medicate. Good on you Mr Knowitall. Just look below
 

 

Yep, and Freddy´s advices are always top of the line, over par, fantastic and wonderful!

Do you not realize some people do have experience in some matters? I did recommend that he ask another opinion, as some doctors, again, don't know what the hell they're doing. Who told anyone to self medicate?

I just had back surgery, came home after 3 nights in the hospital, with Keflex antibiotic for 5 days and Celebrex for pain and anti-inflammation for 7 days.  Vitamin B complex which I already have at home. Also 20 tablets of Codigesic , which is 300mg Paracetamol 15mg Codeine in a tablet.

Also given 21 tablets of Tarlige 5 mg which is similar to pregabalin. 

I had the surgery on Wed night, today I don't feel much pain so I am just taking 500 para which I have at home, if para cant handle the pain i will take Tarlige.

 

for the first 20 hours post-op I was on Fentanyl IV drip, I felt great. Then different day different pain killer including Tarlige, Lyrica, Ultracet, paracetamol.

 

 

34 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Do you not realize some people do have experience in some matters? I did recommend that he ask another opinion, as some doctors, again, don't know what the hell they're doing. Who told anyone to self medicate?

Asking questions about medicine related things on this forum and get 40-50 or more different answers, I treat like self-medication. Sorry if you don´t agree. It´s ok.

14 hours ago, Briggsy said:

There are also antibiotics, benzodiazepines (not taking these)

 

I had a surgery a while back.

I did take the full dose of antibiotics. These are given to counteract bacteria entering the wound to avoid infections. Not sure I would skip out on the antibiotics. 

 

It's the pain-killers I took sparingly. I don't remember what the drug name was. But the doctor even told me not to take the pain-killers unless absolutely necessary. 

 

2 hours ago, Briggsy said:

You are correct. The hospital pharmacist typed the combination the wrong way round.

 

100% sure. 

50 mg once a day before bedtime.

 

If you haven't been on pregabalin before the surgery,  and if you are just taking it for several days now (you didn't tell us when the surgery was), it's hard to imagine why you couldn't just leave it away.

But the people who tell you to ask your treating physician are right. 

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

Asking questions about medicine related things on this forum and get 40-50 or more different answers, I treat like self-medication. Sorry if you don´t agree. It´s ok.

As usual ...hopeless. 🙂

3 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Yeah, but YOU are not a doctor

Yes, but that doesn't mean I don't have any experience in these matters, as my previous posts attest, that you might have missed. And yes, I haven't over prescribed medicines to anyone and hurt them.

7 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

...and did you share your "opinion" already with your doctor? And tell him that he kills thousand of patients every year?

My advice: don't do. You end up in Mad House. 

I don't have a doctor. My ex did, and they hurt her far more than they helped her, and likely were the reason she had most of her physical problems.

4 hours ago, carlyai said:

As usual ...hopeless. 🙂

Teah, you know if want a second opinion, it might be a little bit better to consult a professional. 😉

But on the other hand, we have these too many guys that just want to look down on professionals in Thailand. I really don´t know why they are here, as everything is so terrible.

I have been to doctors and hospitals in Thailand. Hell, I even have my preferred private clinic. I always get the help I need. 🙂 

"This popular drug is linked to addiction and suicide. Why do doctors keep prescribing it?"

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20181218193541/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/victoria/this-popular-drug-is-linked-to-addiction-and-suicide-why-do-doctors-keep-prescribing-it-20181129-p50j1x.html

 

A cautionary article.

15 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Not sure I would skip out on the antibiotics. 

I took the full course of antibiotics. I didn't touch the benzodiazepines,

14 hours ago, Lorry said:

If you haven't been on pregabalin before the surgery

I was not on anything before the operation. I was in full health.

 

14 hours ago, Lorry said:

(you didn't tell us when the surgery was)

I stated it was a tendon reattachment,