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.

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.

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

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.