Still trying to figure out why the sfn pain in my feet has gone from a level 4 to 8over the last few months. I have been going back over that time trying to figure out what may have changed. It is quite odd since I have been able to maintain the level 4 over the past 14 years, with occassional flareups, but nothing like what has happened these last few months.

I have been able to uncover a couple of things which I am wondering may have contributed to the extreme flare-up.

One, back in June, when I refilled my neurontin (which I have been taking 1800-2400 daily for the past 10 -12 years), the generic that Publix gave me was from a different manufacturer than I had been receiving all these years. I noticed the slightly different shape and the non-coating. In addition, once the increased feet pain occurred, I decided to try Lirica for about 5 weeks, which was no help. So I went back to the neurontin. Bottom line is that I have not had the same generic Neurontin which I had been taking for the last 10-12 years for at least the last 3 months. Could it be that I am not absorbing the new generic the same as the old one?

Second, back in June I had a bad bout of the flu or mabey even the swine flu, according to the ENT guy that I saw. It lasted 3 1/2 weeks and was miserable. Could that have something to do with what I am experiencing?

Thanks for any input. Tom

I had the exact same problem a few months back, my neurontin has always been a bright orange colour and changed to yellow pills, I changed pharmacy and am back on the orange pills and the pain is back under control.

--are not quite as regulated as I think they should be; often, the "inert" ingredients vary considerably from one formulation to another, and as far as the "active" ingredients go, up to 20% variation is allowed.

So, you may have a point in noticing a different effect, or not quite as good symptomatic relief, upon switching to a generic.

I do know we've had a few people over the years report that they did not seem to be getting quite the symptom relief on generic gabapentin versus an equal dose of Neurontin. And at times, the variation also occurred between different manufacturers of gabapentin.

Gabapentin is not well absorbed to begin with! As dosing increases, less % is absorbed. Magnesium and calcium used with it also impairs absorption.
http://www.drugs.com/ppa/gabapentin.html

There is a tendency today for Indian generics. I encountered that with my blood pressure tablets..lisinopril. The new Indian company (used by WalMart) made me very dizzy. I assumed it was absorbed too quickly compared to US generics. I switched to Watson brand from the Indian Lupin, and the dizziness is not an issue anymore.

Your RX label should have the brand of generic printed for you on it. What was the previous, and what is the current one?
Previously one of the most common generics was Greenstone, which is owned by Pfizer, who also makes Neurontin.
The pharmacies advertizing $4.00 RXs like WalMart etc, are now using Indian cheap generics as opposed to the ones major chains like CVS and Walgreen's etc choose. But as drug prices become highly more competitive, I think the Indian companies will be more common for all drugs.

mrsD,

My previous mfg was Greenstone which I had been taking for years. The one that Publix gave me is Teva, usa. I talked to the pharmaist today and he going to have the Greenstone in for me tomorrow. I am quite anxious to see if this has anything to do with my huge jump in pain! Thanks for explaining some of this. Tom

Hmmm,...I was on 3600 mg/day of Gabapentin and it didn't have any effect at all. Now that you've all pointed this difference out, I wonder if another brand, or even the brand-name Neurontin would give me different results?

The problem I have with asking doctors about stuff like this is that if they challenge my information, and I say, "well, I saw it on an Internet PN forum", they don't tend to take my assertions very seriously. You know? I believe you, and know that I've experienced this difference with other meds first-hand, but convincing a doctor is sometimes tough.

For this gabapentin thing, you can say a pharmacist told you some people don't respond to every generic equally. That should fix that. Some doctors HATE the internet...because???? They are lazy and don't keep up and don't like being revealed. That's my opinion.

Today, there are better medical sites than ever before...so providing one of THOSE printed out may convince doctors who are not concealing their own laziness or stupidity and are open to learning. Just whip out the American Association of Family Physicians website copies for those die hards. (The AAFP has a wonderful B12 update from 2003 that every doctor should read and understand, and it even suggests oral forms as effective!)