I have tried Neurontin and Lyrica several times with bad effect. When I tried the Neurontin last time, I started at a dosage of 300 mg/day. I did not notice any improvement in my pain at that dosage - even after two months time. When it was upped to 900 mg per day, I did have some small relief in pain though the side effects were pitted edema and confusion/irritability. I noticed the confusion/irritability with the smaller dosage as well. The slight improvement in pain and pitted edema occurred rather quickly after the increased dosage - perhaps within one week. Therefore, it was discontinued. Hope this helps.

I have been successfully taking Savella, 50 mg bid for three months now. I hope it continues to work without fall off. I also take Lortab - 1-4 tabs per day for pain depending on my pain level. I do have several pain issues including the SFN, dysautonomia, FMS and undifferentiated AI/arthritis disease. The pain medicine helps me to maintain a more active lifestyle, although I am still on SSD (and wish I were not). I have been on Lortab for many years. Successfully, I might add, meaning: I have not required an escalation in dosage, my liver is still functioning well without an increase in liver enzymes, and I automatically take less of the drug if I am feeling better. I am sure that I am dependent on it, but not addicted. The same doctor has prescribed it to me all along.

Mere

Thank you Mere!
Yes indeed that was helpful......and since we've both taken Lortab for several years, I'm sure our bodies have several things in common (regarding the tolerance, etc..) so, I'm gonna really take heed to your words.

I am not holding my breath on the Neurontin tryout, but ....we'll see....

ACTUALLY, I forgot to ask this! I'm actually on the GENERIC of Neurontin (Gabapentin).
Is it to anyones' knowledge or experience that 'you get what you pay for' in regard to this med?
I've heard some people in the past claim that it is worth forking out the extra $ to get name brands on certain meds......
Just wonderin.

Cool! I've never responded to my OWN quote before!
How vain can a person possibly get??

But since I can't answer my own question within thy said quote, I'll leave it open for my desperate plea for answers of wisdom

All you can do is try... I hope it helps you. I do read posts where it has been extremely helpful to some... The first time I took Neurontin was years ago when it first came on the market and it was Brand. On the other two trials, I was prescribed Gabapentin (the generic form of neurontin). It didn't seem to make a difference one way or the other in my experience.

Mere

I am on generic because it is all my cheap insurer lets me have.....I can tell you that on opiates, it makes a huge difference. Generics can be 20% off on active ingredients....THAT makes a difference.

With the vicodin, if you have generic and it is 20% less, that is one extra pill per day for me.....so, I am down a pill a day....in one month that is over a week short....ufff.....what can ya say.

I believe you get what you pay for.

I had no idea that narcotics could vary that much! When you are in pain, that percentage could be huge. Can that 20% variation be on the plus side as well?

Mere

Now THAT's an eye-opener!! Goood point!
I'm gonna ask for the Brand name (Lortab) instead of the Hydrocodone I'm currently taking. I will do that on my next refill.

I hope I'm not thinking bassackward here.....Lortab is Brand, right?
Hydrocodone is the Generic......yes?

Very good point Cy, this could make a HUGE difference in the 'tolerance' issue, which drove me to want to try this Neurontin..... I feel i go thru them faster than I should. If I had NAMEbrand, that 20% could prove to be all the difference in the world!!

I ask, only in that after 6 months w/my pn? My hypothyroid, shut down! And the biggest symptom was the super edema in my legs and feet!
When your feet blow up 3-4 TIMES your shoe size? It's definitely a problem, AND definitely caused damages to the vascular and other systems in the legs and feet.
Ultimately, it took 4 years to get the Hashimotos' diagnosis?? Only because my thyroid #'s were going up/down/up continually. And, to treat & stabilize these #'s takes lots longer than we'd like...ergo some damages. [This about 10-15 years after the Hypo-T was diagnosed]
It SHOULD be something just to check off the 'list'? IF you can! It's a matter of 'peace of mind' to know that 'THIS' isn't a culprit.
Further? My docs do request non-generics for the thyroid! They don't believe that the generics are as well controlled quality-wise as they should be. Some docs simply go with the 'flow' so's they don't get 'targeted' about pain meds...sad but true fact of life these days?
It's not hard to find out where a med is 'produced'. It's sounding like I'm biased in some instances? But, There ARE times when quality controls should override costs! It's up to your doc to specify 'brand as named' and not accept generics. However? You get to pay the difference-so ultimately it's your choice. And, at times it's a BIG $ difference!
And, you can always 'appeal' the Insurance Co's Decisions...I'll bet you can find heaps of facts about particular meds that clearly indicate that some generics are not equal to the 'real' thing! Just check out the FDA! It's time consuming? But, it's also educational from all the viewpoints: You-the patient; The Docs; The Pharmacists; and the 'Pharmacy Industry'!
The wrangling over where the 'commas' are placed? Well, it turns your hair GRAY! Not, Grey.
's - j

I believe we had a thread on here regarding generics and that active ingredients could vary by 20% in either direction....altho, the chances of getting MORE of something you paid less for, are, let's just say, unlikely?

I am thinking too, that I will ask for Vicodin. I believe Lortab is a brand name as well....just less familiar with that.

First I heard of this. Does it work for P.N in the feet?

How Does Savella Work?
SNRIs such as Savella affect specific chemicals within the brain known as serotonin and norepinephrine. These are two of several chemicals used to send messages from one nerve cell to another.

As a message travels down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release serotonin or norepinephrine. The serotonin or norepinephrine enters the gap between the first nerve cell and the one next to it. When enough reaches the second nerve cell, it activates receptors on the cell, and the message continues on its way. The first cell then quickly absorbs any serotonin or norepinephrine that remains in the gap between the cells. This is called "reuptake."

Although Savella is an SNRI medication, it is not entirely clear how it works for fibromyalgia pain.