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! 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.

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