The Pfizer and ParkeDavis companies were the ones who encouraged doctors to use those massive doses of Neurontin.
Never mind that more than 1/2 of those high doses were not absorbed. It made them alot of money, and people just pooped out what was not absorbed.

Lyrica is not "stronger"....it is more potent, milligram for milligram. That means you use just less. It is not "more efficient for pain". It is easier to dose, and compliance on the patient's end is easier. When people have to take more pills, they often mess it up or skip. The fewer pills the better the compliance. That is why many drugs end up as Long Acting dosage forms.

I do not think I have seen any reports that Lyrica is "stronger" or more efficient at comparable doses. It is basically the same.
In general it appears that patients have to get to the really high doses of Lyrica to see good pain
relief. This is very expensive and some insurances will not pay for it still.

The fact that you do not see much relief from topical lidocaines at the local tissue level you are applying them at suggests the pain trigger is not there, but higher up along the nerves.
I found Lidoderm patches very ineffective when applied where I felt pain, and far more effective higher along the axon paths where the nerves go to. Topical lidocaine on mucus membranes may cause a rebound throbbing when they wear off. I never had a rebound when using the patches like that. (you have to take the patches off for 12 hrs each day.--you only wear them 12hrs at a time).

Thanks MrsD. Ok. I have a better understanding of the dosages. I was under the impression that becuase Lyrica had a higher bioavailablity, that it was more effective than Neurontin in that way. I understand about the dosage and taking more. My doctor mentioned that I would be starting on 2 ( 75mg tabs a day) ..
I keep a journal so I am really not sure yet. I have had some success with Neurontin. Not a level 2 pain though, more like a 3-4 with the meds.
I am also doing PT for pelvic floor so i want to see how that helps I have alot of hope that is may help the nerve and the GI issues too.
I will be seeing my gyne in december, so I can ask about the patch. That sounds like something that may work well. I do believe it is higher up the nerve as I am not sensitive to the touch ( burning) but more internal.

Thanks again, and I will see about the lidoderm patch and let you know if I get it prescribed how it works. I didnt think to put it back there.

Very interesting stuff. My Neurontin was making me hungry all the time and I did end up gaining about 20lbs in a couple months time. But now that I'm on Methadone as well (Tramadol just wasn't working and the ins. co. wouldn't approve Lyrica), its seems to counteract the hunger and I have lost the 20lbs over the last month or so without any behavioral changes other than that I'm not so hungry all the time. Of course with all the chocolate left over from Halloween, we'll have to see! lol

I'm very scared of patches. That Fentinel (sp?) patch nearly put me in the morgue! But I have from a couple of my clients in the medical field that said they have had some reported problems with that stuff.

Anyway, I sure like this Board and the interesting info and story I find here.

Jay