Hello, I have fibromyalgia and small fibre neuropathy. My insurance company is no longer going to pay for my Lyrica so I'm going to try the generic pregabalin. Any thoughts on how effective it is for small fibre neuorpathy? Currently I save up my dosage to take at bedtime to dampen the burning sensation in my feet and lower legs so I can fall asleep. I used to take 75 twice a day but I now take 75 at once at bedtime.

I tried Cymbalta in the past and had terrible side effects when I withdrew. Insurance won't pay for that either. Thanks for your thoughts.

its not helping my nerve pain cause by head injury. but that is a different kind of pain and i think preglabin will be just as good as lyrica. good luck with it. also, i think its sustained release so wouldn't it be better to take it as prescribed. whatever helps you the most.

I wasn't aware that Lyrica had gone generic, but if/since it has, there should be no difference.

Doc

Shouldn't be any deference, But after debacle with generic wellbutrin. Learning that the latitude generics are allowed in how close the dosage is, and that the name brand maker often retain the time release patent. Which sometime causes different generic makers to vary how the dosage is distributed all with the blessing off the FDA.

Thanks for your comments. Yes, the generic has just recently been offered. I've often read of patients complaining that generic drugs aren't as good. Well it's much cheaper so I'll give it a try. I would like to see what life is like without this medication, but I can't sleep with the burning pain of SFN. I tried Cymbalta and found it reduced my neuorpathic pain from 20 to 40%, but I was still taking Lyrica and found my cognition declining, and terrible constipation. Had a very difficult withdrawal from Cymbalta--migraines for 6 weeks, brain zaps, etc.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones for whom R-Lipoic Acid takes care of the burning as good/better than gabapentin/Lyrica. Wish it were so for everyone.

Doc

Im confused. I thought Pregabalin is the generic for Lyrica. But yet I keep reading Lyrica is more expensive then Neurotin because Lyrica dosent have a generic. Isnt Pregabalin the generic for Lyrica and if so, then why is lyrica still so expensive?? I take Lyrica, Im afraid that at the end of this year , my Ins will stop paying for mine too. couldnt I just get the generic Pregabalin then? Can someone please clear this up? Thanks...

Pregabalin is the generic for Lyrica. Gabapentin (cheaper) is generic for Neurontin. The price for Lyrica isn't likely to come down. If there is a generic version in the US, which would be Pregabalin, the generic will be cheaper. Our insurance company automatically fills the script with generic when a generic is available, unless the Dr says "dispense as written". You need to ask your insurance company.

So are you saying there is a generic, which is pregabalin but its just not available in the US yet? I do take lyrica but I dont know if my Doc put an X for the generic. My Ins paid for it anyway , but it had to be pre-authorized and they said its only good till the end of the year. Im wondering if I could get the generic if he marked an X. I just thought lyrica didnt go generic yet, but then later I started reading about Pregabalin and it became confusing.
On a diff note, Dont even think Im gonna stay on lyrica, im on 300mgs for sfn and this stupid drug is not even helping . any comments anyone?? Thank you..

I just started the "generic" Lyrica. I've been on a few different meds and nothing is coming close to touching my pain/symptoms. The Lyrica seems to be making me feel worse. I can barely see straight and my neck is stiff. Is this normal?