Hi all, i have been dealing with nerve pain in my legs for the last few years due to prior nerve root compression. I'm currently on 3,600 mg of Neurontin, but it only takes the edge off, and there is still quite a bit of pain remaining. When the Neurontin doesn't do the job, I will take Nucynta ER, which seems to help more. I just don't want to take Nucynta on a daily basis if I don't have to.

Are there any medications out there for nerve pain (mine is of the burning variety) that might do a better job than Neurontin or Lyrica? I've heard of the newer Gabapentin encarbil (Horizant), but havent' taken it. Anyone have any experience with it?

I know there are also anti-depressants that can be used for nerve pain, but I haven't taken those either.

Thanks!!

Kevin

I am in the exact same boat but upper extremity pain. I take a massive amount of neurontin but it only partially helps, and some days are unbearable. I'm interested to see responses to your request.

Mack

Hi Kevin,

Difficult question to answer because everyone is different and responds differently to medications. Your not getting adequate relief from gabapentin is a good example; while it only works for about a third of patients, it does work very well for some, and has made a difference in those folks' lives.

That said...

Nortriptyline and gabapentin, alone and in combination for neuropathic pain: a double-blind, randomised controlled crossover trial.
You can find more about other medications beginning here:

Neuropathic pain—Treatments

Ultimately, choices of treatment need to be discussed with your doctor.

talk doctor pain

Hope this helps,

Doc

Benfotiamine
Methylocobalamin




Synergistic antiallodynic interaction between gabapentin or carbamazepine
and either benfotiamine or cyanocobalamin in neuropathic rats.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/18850044/



Benfotiamine relieves inflammatory and neuropathic pain in rats.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16359659



The Eastern European product, Milgamma, various strengths of benfotiamine,
pyridoxine and B12.


Therapeutic efficacy of "Milgamma" in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/9575643/




Vitamin B complex (milgamma) in the treatment of
vertebrogenic lumbosacral radiculopathy

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/20037567



http://www.naturalelixir.com/milgamma.html

http://www.my-lifespan.com/milgamma.html

I'm interested in replies to this as well. I've been on neurontin and lyrica in the past. I wasn't on lyrica long enough to tell. Neurontin made me a bit loopy in high dosages. I may go back on neurontin soon.

I do take cymbalta. It is for depression and the nerve pain as well. I haven't noticed it help much with nerve pain but it's great for depression. (personally speaking)

I've had a similar response to Neurotin. It simply does not function as one expects and hopes for. For pain management, it is minimally helpful even in large doses. It tends to make me a bit more emotionally reactive than I am otherwise. Think I was more psychologically reliant on its potential 'benefits' than actually enjoying any of them.

One thing I did and would suggest to others is look to Oriental medicine or other alternatives to use in conjunction. My childhood friend is a recently qualified practitioner and suggested I let her try a couple of things. With a couple of well placed pricks, heat therapy (moxa) and massage moves I felt better. Additionally, the cost of these treatments is less than or equal to a refill on some of my prescribed medications.

Sometimes to get total control back you have to give up that which you currently have. For me, this was the assumption that my trauma / neuro doctors were the only ones that could help and that the prescriptions were working. Physically I am not sure acupuncture has actually done anything but psychologically I feel like there has been improvement. Isn't that all that really matters?

Good luck on your journey and I hope things get better! Nerve pain is a terrifyingly annoying thing. Keep us updated!

it's been almost 2 years since this thread opened. i'm having similar issues. i have severe nerve pain in my foot due to me breaking my leg in an accident. lyrica has been the only thing to help me so far but the weight gain, decreased vision, and the feeling of being 'high' or in a fog made me stop taking it. i've been dealing with the pain without medication as best i can but now it's getting to the point where i don't think i can do that anymore. things i'm worried about with other medications are...

1. inability to concentrate or pay attention. i have a bad enough problem with that without any medication making it worse!
2. blurred vision
3. weight gain. the extra weight only makes things worse and i'm already 40lbs overweight and can't seem to lose it.
4. memory loss.

Welcome udo4accept.

I have a friend who was on Neurontin for 8 yrs as she deals with ideopathic neuropathy, and while on "N" talked about the side effects one which was dizziness. She is off "N" now, feeling much better. One MD attempted to get her on Lyrica and she got so sick with it so dropped that idea. I've never heard a good report with Lyrica and yet every other tv ad seems to be Lyrica...not good.

Now she has been taking grape seed extract for going on 3 yrs, I think, and even has her 55 yr old daughter on it...My friend is 80...she is so impressed with grape seed ex she regrets not knowing about it sooner... She is a conventional medicine mindset, I am a holistic/alternative mindset....so I guess I didn't bring it to her attention as we think so opposite for the most part....well, I finally brought it to her a few years and she is so happy with it.

I'm on it going on 20 yrs and my reason for mostly being on this group is Femoral Nerve Damage from a hip replacement mess in 2010....my whole right thigh is "dead" pretty much. If one can get improvement, that is huge. Here is one good link, there are many:

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263332.php
Medical News Today
Sep 8, 2014 - Grape seed extract is a supplement made from grape seeds, with a ... macular degeneration, poor circulation, nerve damage, as well as ...