Thanks, Artist. You are so sweet! Yes, I've been having an awful time... I explained a bunch in the Ihh thread started by dear Frogga.

Whenever you find that info- I'd LOVE it. Thanks.


Thank you very much, Kate! I am going to look into the seretonin level thing... thanks for mentioning in to me.



Right now I'm at 2700 mg of Neurontin, and atm I am at 250 mg of Lyrica (but it's being increased every few days).

The Neurontin I, at first wondered if it was helping, but when I had the flu not too long ago I couldn't take it, and then I realized how much it was helping, especially with the burning pain, tingling and allodynia.

I have already seen benefit with the Lyrica- the burning pain, tingling and numbness has decreased dramatically.

My Dr. is planning on keeping me on both. She doesn't want to increase the Neurontin much more, and since Lyrica is close to Neurontin, and I've seen benefit from it, she decided Lyrica would be a good choice for me. I am not too worried about taking them both at once, my Dr. explained it all to me in depth, and she is very cautious with meds and does not want me on any needlessly- she wants to get me comfortable and functional enough with a few, and not just snow me in with a bunch.

Thanks again for all the input!

Hi IHH,

So sorry you've been under the weather; finally the penny dropped, or the bell rang....Debby takes both together, it was staring me in the face:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...3336#post63336

Sounds like you're happy with both, that's very interesting...how did she explain it? Just curious LOL - I haven't read your other post yet, so if you've already covered it, ignore me!!

So good to see you back here,
all the best

artist...i'm curious

Artist,

Well... my RSD is primarily "sensory", and then "vasomotor", "and I think "sudomotor/ edema" and "motor/ trophic" tie...

Both Neurontin and Lyrica are good choices for significant allodynia/ hyperalgesia. Anticonvulsants and/ or other sodium channel blockers and/ or NMDA-receptor antagonists are all good choices (see the "pharmacotherapy guide" from the RSDSA "Pharmacotherapy" article).

Since I have significant allodynia/ hyperalgesia my Dr. feels that both of these are very helpful. She thinks that if they are helpful (they are) with the burning pain, tingling and sensitivity overall then I will be able to be more functional.

In addition to increasing the Lyrica, I am working on "touching, moving, using" for desensitization and both together should be helpful.

I also do not deal with the weight gain, sleepy/ sluggishness, etc from either Neurontin or Lyrica, so they are good choices for me for that reason.

As you know, Neurontin and Lyrica are both used for nerve generated pain. I describe my pain consistant to nerve pain: "burning", "shooting" and "tingling". I also describe it as "stabbing" quite frequently.

Using Lyrica for RSD is off-label use. It was not "made" for use of treating neuropathic pain. But, it has been shown to work.

My Dr. said that using Lyrica would be a problem if I was planning on becoming pregnant... I told her not to worry- I am not planning on that. -grin-

Overall my Dr. and I discussed the options and we decided it seemed like a very good choice for me. I am glad I started it!

Oh- and my Dr. thinks it might help somewhat with the headaches the RSD has caused.

Most of what we discussed about it was how it would help me personally, taking into acount my primary RSD symptoms, age, etc...

Sending my love!

Artist... the only "study" I found using Neurontin and Lyrica together is a study done on rats!

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2210/4/14

Why do you say it is not a good idea? Seriously, do you know of bad cases when they were used together?


I am not just telling you this, HubbyWithRSD, it is voiced to everyone, just some of my thoughts, that have crossed my mind as I have laid in a dark room for days from my pain, as I have passed out onto the floor (from the amount of pain. My dad had to pick me up off the floor), as I have vomited from migraine/ RSD pain, as I have had major nausea and as I have been "corrected" for being on drugs by a 'friend' and so on...

Sometimes, I think, we need to weigh out the positive/ negative of being on these drugs. If a certain drug (just take Neurontin and Lyrica for example) improves my quality of life dramatically, or even a small amount than I would rather take the drug and deal with any side effects or effects on the body when using it long term.

For me, I have to make a choice. I have to decide whether the effects of these two together are improving my life enough that I think it is worth taking them though they will do some damage (as any drug) to my body. Would I rather take the drug and be able to have some semblance of normalcy, some quality of life or would I rather not take any drug and live in even more excruciating, debilitating pain that I cannot do anything but scream and cry in bed from? If I take no drugs and that is how I live my life (in bed, unable to do a thing), why? I am not some hero, who is going to win some prize, because "well, I didn't take any drugs". Sometimes drugs are needed. They are not the best thing, but you have to make a choice. A choice that decides your quality of life. Sometimes the side effects and effects are worth it. There is a price to pay. Believe me, at my age (I am only 16, will be 17 in July), I don't want to take drugs that are going to harm my body, that may shorten my life span and cause many more problems... but I have to weigh out the options I have.

If there was something that I could take naturally for pain relief, I would... but I cannot find that anywhere. Anticonvulsants are not heavy drugs- they are not going to mess up the liver and body like others...

I am trying to take the lightest, most harmless drugs there are.

I wanted to mention, as well- I take milk thistle (an herb) daily, which cleanses the liver and is really something everyone who is on a medication should take!


I hope that all I have said makes sense. I know it should to those with RSD. As RSD is the worst form of chronic pain in the world today!

Some people without chronic pain don't understand, don't understand why we should be on meds, and they think we are drug addicts and we should just act like nothing is wrong. Until you have experienced chronic pain you are not an expert in it!

Really fuzzy, foggy mixed up RSD/ migraine moments at this time...

...just realized that this is *comparing* Neurontin and Lyrica, not usin them together?!

Sorry, I am having such a rough time as of late and I didn't realize...

Also found this letter written by Keith Orsini to the families/ loved ones of RSD patients that has to do with what I was talking about it my one post in this thread:http://www.rsdhope.org/Showpage.asp?...1&PGCT_ID=2953
I put in bold what I really wanted to stand out-- how true! I really thought this letter he wrote was great!

my doctors have me on both which you are not to take both I have found some help from it don't know if I only take lyric will it still help the little it is. very scared of with draws