We can only post here what has been published. And the 30% figure is a new statistic from a large metastudy of previous gabapentin studies.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21412914

There are many studies on PubMed showing lipoic acid, benfotiamine, B12, acetyl carnitine, etc have reduced PN symptoms in those studies. But I have not seen metastudies collecting them all yet. Some of those studies go back over 10 yrs, and many started in Europe or other countries.

Mrs. D says (re her link to the article on Lyrica/Neurontin and brain synapses):

Still we do not know to what extent this is going to affect adults using these drugs...but it is still something to think about, carefully.[/QUOTE]

That would certainly help explain some major brain lapses in recent months. Among us (ahem) senior folk, forgetting things or, as my brother-in-law says, "losing the plot," is scary and the first thought (or fear) is incipient Alzheimers. Not exactly encouraging. However, I've been on Lyrica for about six years now. Tried to wean myself off it at one point (very very slowly) and found myself too tired to get upstairs so went back -- to Neurontin first. Then, when the dose of Neurontin was at the max, I switched back to Lyrica. Now I'm wondering if my exhaustion was from some other cause (the relief, I have to say, was instantaneous -- placebo effect?) and I simply attributed it to the wrong thing. Anyone else have any experience with this? I'm not beyond believing that the drug companies plot to get one hooked . . .

Marcia

People really respond uniquely to both these drugs. What helps one, may not help another.

If you search Lyrica in the search function, you'll find many discussions about it. We do have some members who have used it successfully and others who didn't like it.

I also was switched from Neurontin to Lyrica as my liver was not able to withstand the drug. I was experiencing extreme pain in my large muscle groups, a delayed burning sensation whenever I moved...at all, along with myofascial pain syndrome since my syringo-subarachnoid shunting operation in September. The Neurontin worked well but the sedation was intense. With the Lyrica I am more clear-headed and the burning has all but disappeared on the base dose (50 mg. 3 X daily) along with less frequent neuropathic pain symptoms such as burning, stabbing and paresthesia which were much less controlled with Neurontin.
I agree that neuropathies are so complex that the broad labeling of such a wide range of independent conditions is inevitable until a greater understanding is achieved.
Meggie