lyrica vs neuortin
 

whats the pros and cons,,,im on neurontin,,but i notice that alot of you all are on lyrica both are anticonvulsants ,,but they are not the same,,, i read on drugs.com that lyrica had nerve injury pain properties and neurotin was used for nerves,,but i didnt get a clear picture,,,im sure alot of you have tryed both or switched from one to the other or your dr perferred one over ther other,,,,seems like like i get better answers from you then the simple minded stares from the dr when you ask him a question,,,,,,,,,,, bobber

Hi Bobber,

I have been on both Neurontin (it's known as Gabapentin over here) and Lyrica and can't say I noticed a decrease in my pain from either of them.

I semt to get more side effects from the Lyrica. The Lyrica made me really drowsey and I also gained a lot of weight (about 30lbs within a few months). The Neurontin made me pretty drowsey but I didn't put any weight on with that like I did the Lyrica.

I was first prescribed Neurontin and then when that didn't work, my Doctor prescribed Lyrica. From what I was told and understand, Lyrica is the newest improved version of Neurontin.

Wishing you the best of luck with the meds! I hope they help you and lower your pain levels! :hug: Let us know how you do on them!

Alison.

Thanks Ali.
also id like to find out which one is easier on the liver,,,,,

Hi Bobber,
I have been on both Neurotin and Lyrica. Was on 3200 mg. of neurotin for several years. When Lyrica became more notable, I told my Dr. I wanted to try it. Was on 400 mg. I felt it helped a little more with the nerve pain. I gained weight on both of them. I had been the same weight as high school days until RSD. I had been very active post high school days with various athletics. Both drugs were the only thing that kept the dailey jerks, electric jolts, spasms etc. away. But I asked my Dr. if I could go off the Lyrica and over a long period, we graduated off this drug. The electric jolts, jerks, etc have not come back and I've lost 30 lbs. I was able to decrease my high blood pressure meds. So I felt my overall health was better without the antii-seizure drugs and losing the weight. Of course, if I were to get the electric jolts back, I would go back on Lyrica. I've been off for 7 months.
I'll see another Dr. Tuesday and will know how my liver is doing. I'll let you know my results. In previous posts, others have had different results. We are all different when it comes to reactions to medications. I trust my Dr. and I trust myself. Hope this helps a little. Read and research as much as you can. I wasn't diagnosed for 4 years or should I say I was misdiagnosed for 4 years. Take care, loretta

Hi Bobber
I have been on both meds, the neurontin/gabipentin I found made my eyes blury and caused me to jumble my words alot, as well as the weight gain.. however it did help with the burn and electrical jags.

Lyrica I found helped the pain more than the neurontin/gabipentin but had a quicker weight gain side effect and a longer adjustment time, it helped with the same symptoms as the gabipentin but as I said I found it helped more with the pain.

now that being said I had to go off it for a very serious reason, these drugs are anticonvulsants but they have other effects on a SMALL group of the patients using them, and they now (thanks to patients like me and unfortunatly some others who did not survive) have to put a suicide warnings on the boxes. I went into a horible depression that was filled with visions and dreams of horendus things happening to me, and in real life [example] I would be at a bus stop and I'd picture myself stepping in front of it, the blood gore etc... scarry stuff. I sought help.
I was depressed before but not like this.. as soon as I went off the lyrica the visions slowed then stopped, I am still depressed, but not on the scale that the lyrica spiked me up to, and I am so glad I have the suport system in effect that I have.

We all need to have a good suport system.

So then I did some research and my doctor put me on another drug called topriate or topomax it is also an anticonvulsant like neurontin/gabipentin and lyrica but it's side effects are that it makes you loose weight and it helps migrane headaches (does wonders for RSD scull cramps), I have lost all my extra weight from those other meds, I have gotten no extra depression symptoms, it helps the japs and pain, though mabie not quite as well as lyrica did. Topomax is hard on the kidneys.

Lots to absorb eh?
good luck bud,
Sandra

I have been on both medications;however, I am currently taking Neurontin.

Lyrica gave me a drunk feeling, and I had trouble controlling my laughter. I would start to laugh and then it would not stop for 15 min or more. I hurt physically, tears flowing down my cheeks from laughing so hard, as I could not control the hysterical laughter.

Also,with Lyrica, I experienced trouble with repeating the same word over and over again. I had no control over my speech.:eek:

I have experienced weight gain from both. I stay on Neurontin because the positive out ways the negative effects on me. It softens the burn,aches, and jabbing pain. Further, I am able to control my speech and laughter.

The bad dreams happen every once in a while. After stopping the Lyrica, I did experience some horrible, gory dreams.

Hi Bobber,

I tried both Lyrica and Neurontin. I didn't tolerate either one of them very well. I gained weight, tripped over things, and was miserable. I also have really bad issues with head pain. So I switched to Topamax, which is also an anti-seizure med often prescibed for migraines. (Sorry if someone already said that). I did loose most of the weight I gained from the other 2 meds. I drink 20 ounces of cranberry juice a day and lots of water because Topamax can cause kidney and bladder issues.

Topamax in the medical community is also called "Dopamax" because so many people say that they get really spacy on it. That definitely applies to me. I forget things all the time. I tell my husband the same thing twice. I forget what he tells me a minute after he tells me it. I loose EVERYTHING and can't find it. It's pretty crazy. Apparently this is supposed to wear off after a while....(and I thought that I was that way because of the pain meds! Today my docs in Boston told me it was likely the Topamax).

I am fairly certain that all of the anti-seizure meds have the black box warnings for depressive episodes. I know I have suffered from them. Really bad pain, WC, crappy docs, etc. will do that to you. Many of us on this board have seen it all.

I am going to be tapering off some of the Topamax, so I will find out soon whether it is really helping with the head pain or not. Please feel free to PM me if you would like any more info.

Sandy

thanks sandra
talk about pscho meds,,i was put on a high dose of prednisone,,the 1st 2 days of the loading phase i thought i was losing my mind,,,really weird thoughts at nite when trying to sleep,,,worse than nightmsre on elm street,,,im glad im off it,,,it did help and took the redness out of my legs and killed everything foreign in the body ,but i felt like bumping myself off, un controllable thoughts,,man i was a wing nut,,plus he had me on 4 other interacting meds too,,,,,i feel so sorry for you,,youve got alot on your plate,,,your in my prayers,,,,,,,bobber

hi dew
man oh-man , you really need to be praised for you perserverence,,,youve got alot on your plate ,,,may God bless you and bring you a miracle tomororow,,,,,,,,,,,,,bobber

Hi Sandel,

I had the exact same experience as you on Lyrica. I live in Vancouver and was could see myself jumping off the Lions Gate Bridge. Thankfully my husband saw the extreme reactions I was having including rapid weight gain (unlike me because I am of a long thin body type) and insisted I go off it. Fortunately my doctor listened.

I'm glad you were able to get off it, that you are OK and that you found a replacement medication that helps with some of the rsd pain.

MsL

I am on neurontin again but had tried Lyrica as well. Right now I am glad I went back on neurontin but still increasing. I think that it really depends from what I have noticed on the boards on neurontin vs lyrica depending on person. I am on Cymbalta too that I guess is also for depression but aids in pain. I just noted the Cymbalta as someone stated that they were depressed still too.

i'm glad i started reading the responses about lyrica, my pm just prescribed it to me... now idk if i wanna take it. i was given neurontin when i first got dx, but didn't like being like a zombie so i was then switched to topomax which i did feel better relief from for a while. and i think i actually lost some weight with it. idk if being on lyrica and having the mentioned side effects would be to my advantage since i'm just getting back into the whole school thing... i need a clear and normal mind! haha although idk if i ever have had a normal mind :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Let me get this straight...
 

You mean to tell me that Neurontin/Lyrica/Cymbalta are better for the patient than old fashioned percocet/morphine/opiates? I haven't any spacey mind things, nor have I had suicidal thoughts or impulses, just good pain control, with no concern as to my liver or kidneys acting up ten years from now. If the worst side effect I have to be concerned with is physical addiction, well heavens, it's a lifelong condition, I'll detox when I'm dead. I am thinking that the new drugs are only scripted for one reason, and one reason alone; money. They can charge an arm and a leg for this crap, knowing it could seriously damage the patient, and might not work at all, whilst claiming 'well, it's nonaddictive, so that makes it better'. Horsepuckey. This country and the world at large need to get off the war on drugs and get to the war on pain, in this particular area anyway. We need a greed-free zone around our medical establishments. I find it hard to believe anyone would push these dangerous chemicals without having tried everything that is safer first, which is nearly everything else.

My pm Dr just started me on Lyrica last wk. I'm at 150 mg day but my tremors have gotten worse so he wants me to cut back to see if that helps. I don't think it will as the tremors have been getting worse over the past few wks (before Lyrica), wish Dr's listened. When I first started the Lyrica I got the sleepiness but have so far adjusted. It really hasn't done much for the pain, burning etc though. I had hoped this would help. I need something, I don't take anything else but need something now. I can't deal with it on my own anymore.

Hey Stressout,
I am on Lyrica too (6 mths now 400mg) it has never helped with my tremors/spasms. I was put on it to help keep the burning down and make it more tolerable. Not sure what would be best Med for the tremors. You might want to ask some of the other members.

I'm confused
 

I'm reading alot about people being on lyrica or gabapentin. I take both. 3600mg gabapentin and 600mg lyrica.
I have come off my cymbalta to try savella so my electrical zings are back. And I have been getting upset alot lately.
I have been thinking about asking to try topamax because my pain has gotten worse and my SCS doesn't work as well anymore.
I have had some scary dreams too. Reading all this I guess its one of the meds. The dreams feel almost as if I'm halosonating(?) because I can't tell if and when I'm aawake during them.

I am a 34-year-old mother of 5 with RSD in my right ankle and leg and lower spine. I started in Lyrica when my youngest was 8 months old (I was forced to stop nursing so I could try it :(). It seemed ok until I forgot to send my kids lunches to school and panicked because I had gone around locking a bunch of doors in the house and had no memory of it. I asked to switch to Neurontin, and my docotr told me Lyrica and Neurontin are the exact same medication, but that Lyrica is absorbed better so you take less. At my insistance, he agreed, and I have had very good results with the Neurontin. My sensitivity and burning is greatly reduced. Negatives are that I started having anxiety and depression issues, but taking Cymbalta has straightened that out. Also, I am sad now because I have gained weight on it, and REALLY hate it. I'm not overweight at all, but I just don't feel good about myself because I've never had weight issues before this med. I still need my Hydrocodone and Ultram, but this makes the differernce between being a "normal" mom and not being able to walk some days. Good luck!!!

AJ822; I didn't start the Lyrica for my tremors. It was to help with the burning, electrical shock feeling etc but in the past few wks my tremors that I have had now for about 2 months seem to be getting worse. I guess the Dr thinks the Lyrica is making them worse. It bothers me that they are getting worse but if it means less of the burning etc I will deal with it. I guess some things are going to be a trade off for pain relief. I was hoping the Lyrica would help but since he lowered the dose it isn't.

i know that all the meds make me short ,,im backing off the dose of some,,,too many can make you wig out and be someome your not,,,bad suicide thoughts,,,,,,,exspecially when i was loading all the meds the 1st week,,,,,,,,,,,,,man thats not me,,and my poor wife had a hurt look on her face,,,didnt saya word,,and this is a class act woman,,,,God feraing giving loveing,,,,9 yrs of marriage,,didnt ever get this short with her,,gives me another reason to hate this plaque,,,may God grant us all a remission,,,,,,,,,,,,,,bobber p.s,,,if i took the amount of all these meds that the drs have written on the bottles ,,id either be dead or.have a strokeor heart attack,,,,,,,either way,,,back to normal now that the doses are down,,,,

I've been on it for nearly 5 years now. Helps the horrid electric type pains for def. Yes weight gain is a pain but seems to have plateaued. Not helped due to lack of activity due to co ex health issues.
It does cause issues with eyes. They are dry and I have to use artificial tears and heavier gel lubricants as if let them 'grate' for too long then get eye infection. So hence always have a chloramphenicol eye drop in.

I found that made me very sleepy in the beginning and then every time doe adjusted would go through it again. Took time to adjust. Memory, yes I have issues with memory now and cannot same for sure if Lyrica because on several meds. I also take Effexor low dose twice a day for its nerve pain properties but it may also help with the depression probs that others of you have experienced. I have never experienced this. I do feel very fed up at times but not like some of you have explained in posts.


Hope this is helpful.
Hx

I've tried both Neurontin and Lyrica and am currently on Neurontin.

Lyrica is supposed to be easier on the body and have less side effects, however it dramatically increased my seizures (I also have epilepsy), so I had to come off of it after a few weeks. It was a rare reaction known as paradoxical (sp ? ) as Lyrica is also used to treat seizures, but alas, it happend to me. I was never able to get up to a high enough dose to achieve any sort of results pain wise, so I can't comment on that aspect of it.

I am currently on Neurontin. I find that it helps with the allodynia aspect of my RSD/CRPS pain and my seizures, but I can only tolerate it at relatively low doses (1200 mg/day) without having major side effects.

Don't be afraid to try the Lyrica though--- it may turn out to be a great med for you, and if it isn't, you can always go off it !

:) L2L