Gabapentin or Lyrica????
 

Hi,

I am currently on Gabapentin for my RSD, but my doctor advised that I could try Lyrica to see if it works better. Has anyone switched gabapentin for lyrica or vice versa? Has anyone tried both? If so, what are the differences? Which works better? Please help. Thanks.

Gabapentin or Lyrica
 

I have only taken gabapentin, but it definitely helps me a lot. I also have another neurological disorder that it helps so I get a double whammy of help. Anyway, I know that everyone is different so I can only tell you about my experience. My PM increased my dosage of gabapentin to 2400/daily, but I first started on 100 mg. many years ago. It does have some minor side effects for me, but I have decided they are easier to deal with than the pain.
I hope someone else can tell you about their experiences.

Lexie,

I have not tried Lyrica, but neurontin (gabapentin) is the mainstay medication for me. I have tolerated it well with minimal side effects, but the side effects profile can certainly vary with this drug.

I have tried Cymbalta, but it didn't help. Gabapentin, amitriptyline, trazodone and naproxen are my meds cocktail.

It is so very important to stress that what works for one, may or may not work for another. You and your doctors will need to experiment to find what works best for you.

Good luck!

I have tried gabapentin without success but I did not reach the high levels. I have been started on Lyrica and it's been wonderful for me. Definitely has decreased my pain level. Additionally, a couple of months after I was started on Lyrica, I got started on Ketamine nasal spray which also has been a definite pain reducer.

I am on 3600 mg of gabapentin per day. It's hard.

What side effects have you had from lyrica, if you don't mind me asking?

i couldnt take lyrica as it made me feel like i couldnt breathe and it felt like i was having a heart attack. I then went to neurontin and i could tolrate it. i currently take 1200 mg daily.

I started on lyrica. Got up to 500mg a day. For the $ I was spending, the reliefe was little or none. Switched to Gaba and I'm about 2400 mg a day. I noticed a difference.
Starting lyrica, I felt loopy. Kind of tired but had my wits about me. A few days were like that. The majority adjust to the side fx and or those who don't, its time for a switch. My doc likes me on Gaba rather than lyrica.
It is hard to pinpoint exactly what medication helps in what way when one is taking 4-5 medications at a time. That's the life.

I can't attribute any side effects to the Lyrica. I do get very tired and I often feel weak but I'm not sure if that's related to meds, time of the year or my crps.

I had terrible weight gain on Lyrica. I was on it a few years back for my nerve entrapment... prior to the surgery that caused my RSD. I absolutely refuse to go back on it!

This is one of those things you just have to try and see what works best for you. Cymbalta will be another option you'll probably attempt.

Gabapentin, even at 3600mg, didn't help me. I take Lyrica 75mg 3x per day and notice that I have a distinct decrease in the burning/shooting pain. I did gain 10 pounds on it.

Lyrica, Neuropathy & Side Effects
 

Hi PG
Glad to hear Lyrica is helping you. I started taking lyrica 10 days ago for small nerve neuropathy. Pins and needles, tingling, stabbing, electric-like feeings and burning pain in my legs, feet, arms, hands and face. I am only on 50mgs a day because of side effects, Jitteriness, lightheaded, spacey feelings and some anxiety. Im slowly trying to get up to 75 a day and some... I have already gained 4 or 5 lbs. ( Right now its ok becuase I am thin). My stomache feels bloated and is distended. I am afraid I may be retaining water and am wondern if this could become serious. So far no swelling in my hands or feet, but I am on a low dose.
How long have you been taking lyrica and what dose are you on? How long did it take for your weight gain. Does the weight gain stop after a while or do you keep gaining weight? I have read on other sites people are reporting hair loss and teeth problems. Have you heard or had any of these side effects?? Sorry for all the questions, but I am concerned about the risks of this medication. Any suggestions or input would be appreciated!! Thanks!

I used Gabapentin for over two years and switched to Lyrica from the side affects. Neurontin played havoc with my stomach, it's strange how these drugs will affect one person one way, and another differently. I tried Cymbalta, oh was that a nightmare drug for me, horrible lucid dreams, night sweats and anger, rage I will say. R.S.D. is no fun, my dear friend passed away three years ago, her doctor in Ventura, California "Barry Ross MD" was one of the first doctors to successfully debunk all the lies that "RSD does not exist or there is no causal relationship between traumatic injuries and R.S.D.".

How cool Dr. Ross never gave fighting the propaganda in the 1990s by insurance companies saying R.S.D. was all in our head. Miss L was injured in 1989 and passed away in 2010. I remember her laughs about dealing with chronic burning and stabbing pain, "hey let's get a blunt and smoke it, that distract my pain for a while." I miss her company.

I agree that some meds affect everyone differently. I'm on 2700mg/day of Gabapentin and have no side affects whatsoever. I'm taking it with Norco (Hydrocodone) and Cymbalta. I was curious to read some of the effects of Lyrica others have. My insurance company makes me jump through hoops to get Cymbalta, having to get prior approval first because there is no generic, and that takes forever. Also it's very expensive even with insurance. I'm wondering of Lyrica would be a good replacement for Cymbalta. I have had no bad side effects from Cymbalta though, but I have read that you shouldn't take Lyrica with Gabapentin? I can't really see getting off of Gabapentin though.

Lyrica and Gabapentin should not be taken together because of the redundancy. Insurance companies push generic even if they are ineffective with your body, as their primary choice. Not all generics are going to work together with your body, there are forms you can fill out to protest the cheaper drugs if your doctor is willing to do this. Our bodies burn out from taking the same drugs over the years, so it's possible to make a case for a new generation drug, if your current medication is not effective.

Rich if Gabby is working for your body, that's good to hear. No rush to try Lyrica now, in the future it's possible you might need this different medication which is good, it has helped me greatly.

Well it seems my insurance is being difficult again. They turned down my prior authorization for Cymbalta, which I already had approved, but my employer switched insurance, so I'm having to re-do. They want me to take something else before approving the Cymbalta again. My Dr. prescribed Effexor. I thik I'll stick with the Gabapentin for now since it's working. Lexigirl, you mentiond you're on 3600 mg a day of Gabapentin, and it's hard. How is it affecting you? Does it work but with unpleasant side effects? It seems to work fine for me, I'm just not liking taking so many pills so many times a day. I take three every 8 hours along with some other things and don't have bad side effects, yet my Dad takes 1 each night, and gets really loopy. Weird how things effect people so differently

RichS

Lyrica (pregabalin) is a more recently developed variant of gabapentin. As a result the drugs share similarities. As a result, they would not be prescribed together. Some people seem to find that Lyrica works as well as gabapentin with fewer side effects but there are plenty for whom that's not the case. If you were taking already gabapentin and it wasn't proving sufficiently effective or the side effects were intolerable, you'd stop taking that before trying Lyrica.

Along with a cocktail of other medication, I have found cymbalta helpful in managing my CRPS pain but only at a dose of 60mg per day. The lower dose of 30mg did nothing. Where I live we do not pay anything at all for any prescription medications so, thankfully, cost isn't ever an issue.