Taking Gabapentin and Lyrica together ?
 

My Doc switched me from Gabapentin to Lyrica about a month ago. The Gabapentin was no longer helping much with my burning feet. I was at 3600mg of Gabapentin. I continued to take the remaining Gabapentin (300mg caps) here and there along with the Lyrica when the burning was bad and it seemed to help. Eventually I ran out of the Gabapetin and the burning became more intense (worse). I told my Doc I was taking both and he said he never heard of anybody doing that and doesn't recommend it.
A couple of questions.
Does it make any sense at all that the 2 drugs would work better in combination ?
I am taking 375mg of Lyrica and would like to increase the dosage. Does Lyrica have a max dose where the effectiveness peaks out like Gabapentin (3600mg) ?

Gerald

I don't know about that....
 

Lyrica and Neurontin are related as best as I understand. Not sure if that's a good idea or not...taking both of them. You might want to do a bit more research. There could be long term issues. That is, you might get away with taking them both for a short period of time but the risk may increase the longer you do it.

One drug interaction checker says there are no interactions. But that's not absolute:
http://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=B...00000000001086

Check with your pharmacist. Google the two and have your doc do some research. With these kinds of drugs it pays to be safe.

They are considered to be the same when calculating max dosage.
The relationship is 300mg Lyrica = 1800mg Neurontin.
They seem to be in the same family and do the same type of thing,
and are to be considered the same med when titrating from one to the other,
so as not to exceed the recommended dosages.
Combining them or taking them together is thought to be overkill,
(or overdosage problems).
I don't understand why it would be done.
That said, I've read quite a few posts on other forums, that said the docs have
Rx'd them (or so they claim) to be taken at different times of day ex: Lyrica 3xday & Neurontin before bed. Or use of Neurontin as breakthru med (that doesn't make any sense to me, as it takes about an hour to kick-in).
I think that any affect that additional Neurontin over Lyrica is purely psychological.
It makes no sense, since Lyrica is the more effective, stronger of the two similar meds.
In regard to the dosage where it becomes ineffective, that would be on an individual basis, and differ from person to person. My tolerance was at 4200mgs/day after over 6 yrs using the med in increasing daily amounts. After 2yrs at 4200mgs.day, it started to become ineffective & I switched to Lyrica. 600mgs/day after titrating up.

Bob,
Is the 600mgs of Lyrica helping you ? I have burning pain and its a bugger as you know.

I thought I would chime in, hope its okay, but my pain management
doc said that people do take both as they are close but not exactly
the same. Im thinking of trying it myself.. Ill let you know how it goes:)

I'm not Bob:) but 450mg a day is working for me.

This is one of the things I love about this board...ask a question and eventually someone that's been there and done that chimes in. :)

groskilly,
My 600mgs Lyrica & 400mgs Tramadol per day- have brought my
pain levels down from a constant 7-8 with spikes to 9+, (w/o meds)
to a manageable 2-4.... with some days even a 1.
Spikes are 5 or 6.

What I think happens....
 

Is that even though Neurontin and Lyrica are similar, they must work slightly differently at the cell membrane level.

People who are on Neurontin for a while, the nerves get "used" to that way, and when you introduce the new Lyrica, either it doesn't get "in" the same, perhaps the Neurontin blocks it, or the nerves just have to "learn" to use the Lyrica
slightly differently. In other words an adjustment period occurs.

These drugs are not identical, and the body tends to "get used to things" and readjust etc. It does this with many other types of drugs too.

Many Thanks
 

Thanks for all your input so far. The increase to 450mgs of Lyrica has really helped. I still have most of the feeling in my feet and no problems with my hands yet. I do get burning in my wrists on occasion which may be a sign of things to come for my hands.
I am still a newbie with this wonderful disorder and look forward to the next challenge. (yeah right)

Gerald