[cubanito_016]

Hi I really dont have Idea which one is better I wanna hear from people about their opinion on which of the this 2 meds are better from their experience.

[edlee]

I've had better results with gabapentin,,, the lyrica did nothing for me...

That said,,, even the gaba is starting to fail for me now.
ed

[allis53ca]

i tried both...stuck with lyrica...everybodys different

[Trinity]

I take Lyrica, got nasty side effects from gabapentin

[araitn]

I've not had any luck with either one of them. I started out with Neurontin (gabapentin) during inpatient rehab and still had a lot of pain. The doctors thought it was just pain from the surgery and gave me more oxycontin, which made me stupid or knocked me out. I was put on gabapentin (generic Neurontin) when I was discharged and it gave me a terrible rash. So, after a fight with insurance, I was put back on Neurontin, but I never did get any relief. Next, came Lyrica, which didn't work for the nerve pain and made me forgetful and cloudy headed. The doctors said that would wear off, but it never did and I finally said no more. Well, a few months later and the nerve pain was so bad that I told the doctors I had to have something. So, right now I'm taking Lyrica again with effexor and elavil. They thought this combination should give me some relief, but I've been on them for about a month now and there is no improvement, in fact, I think it's worse. I would like to drop the drugs, because I never have liked taking medications and they're not working anyway, but the pain is so bad that I would take anything if it would give me some relief. Long story..... I guess I could have just stopped after my first sentence.

[cubanito_016]

araitn, on Feb 23 2009, 03:21 PM, said:

I've not had any luck with either one of them. I started out with Neurontin (gabapentin) during inpatient rehab and still had a lot of pain. The doctors thought it was just pain from the surgery and gave me more oxycontin, which made me stupid or knocked me out. I was put on gabapentin (generic Neurontin) when I was discharged and it gave me a terrible rash. So, after a fight with insurance, I was put back on Neurontin, but I never did get any relief. Next, came Lyrica, which didn't work for the nerve pain and made me forgetful and cloudy headed. The doctors said that would wear off, but it never did and I finally said no more. Well, a few months later and the nerve pain was so bad that I told the doctors I had to have something. So, right now I'm taking Lyrica again with effexor and elavil. They thought this combination should give me some relief, but I've been on them for about a month now and there is no improvement, in fact, I think it's worse. I would like to drop the drugs, because I never have liked taking medications and they're not working anyway, but the pain is so bad that I would take anything if it would give me some relief. Long story..... I guess I could have just stopped after my first sentence.

Hey bro I understand you I have been with this pain for 1 year already and nothing is helping me.My doctor swich me to lyrica I am doing 300mg a day and its not working so good.This wendsday I have a appoinment with him and I think that he is gona raise the dosage of the lyrica to 600mg a day.I hope they find something that could relax the pain a little and I will be happy.Youst keep looking may be you will find something good or try a better doctor.

[Hawkeye]

Lyrica is the only one I've tried. Bad side effects, so I quit taking it and just cowboyed up.

Joe

[Faithful Dove]

I take Neurontin (gabapentin sp?) daily, but my dosage is 300mg morning, 300 mg afternoon, and 900 mg at night. Does this seem high to anyone? For the most part it seems to work, and then there are days when the burning sensation is off the pain scale. I also take 50 mg /day of Baclofen. Elavil too. And I have only been out of rehab since July of last year.

Dove

[Scribbler]

Faithful Dove, on Feb 25 2009, 06:22 PM, said:

I take Neurontin (gabapentin sp?) daily, but my dosage is 300mg morning, 300 mg afternoon, and 900 mg at night. Does this seem high to anyone? For the most part it seems to work, and then there are days when the burning sensation is off the pain scale. I also take 50 mg /day of Baclofen. Elavil too. And I have only been out of rehab since July of last year.

Dove

I suffered with nerve pain for years, it was so bad at times it made me scream out.

18 months ago I was told about Gabapentine by my Spinal Consultant who explained all about it, how to take it and the maximum I could take.

I started on one 300mg capsule on the 1st day, two 300mg the 2nd day then three 300mg capsule the 3rd day. My pain went almost immediately, so I stayed on three 300mg for 3 months.

I guess I struck lucky, as its worked for me and I've had no side effects. If the pain comes back, which it sometimes does at night, I increase my dose to 2 capsules in the morning 1 at lunch time and 2 capsules in the evening.

My Consultant told me not to exceed 8 capsules a day and if I wanted to come off them to do it slowly, gadually decreasing the dose.

I hope my experience has helped, but as we're all different its impossible for it to work for everyone.

This post has been edited by Scribbler: 26 February 2009 - 09:03 AM

[edlee]

I'm have just been bumped up to 800mg 3 times a day,,, with 600mg of ibuprofen as a booster,, also 3 times a day. I have heard of higher dosages being prescribed for regular use.

The ibuprofen ( Motrim) is supposed to enhance the effect of the gaba. None of the above is doing much, so I may drop back to my previous dosage after I give this one a month or so.

ed

[cubanito_016]

Faithful Dove, on Feb 25 2009, 11:22 AM, said:

I take Neurontin (gabapentin sp?) daily, but my dosage is 300mg morning, 300 mg afternoon, and 900 mg at night. Does this seem high to anyone? For the most part it seems to work, and then there are days when the burning sensation is off the pain scale. I also take 50 mg /day of Baclofen. Elavil too. And I have only been out of rehab since July of last year.

Dove

the highest dose with gabapentin is 3600 mg a day and if you gona take lyrica the highest dosage is 600mg a day you shouldent go over that percentage.

[mjrcpd]

I took Neurontin and had no luck. I now take 200mg's of Lyrica 3 times a day. I have few side effects (confusion, lethargy sp?) and have significant pain relief for my neuropathic bouts. If I miss a dose by mistake, I certainly am reminded by the pain that creeps in and triggers my memory. Been taking the drug over 1 year.

[cubanito_016]

I am doing lyrica and it haves a been more relief than the gabapentin

[rkzenrage]

I have had FAR better results with Lyrica.
That being said, I take a LOT of meds and have several doctors (yes, they all know each other and all that I am taking, just a lot of specialists) and I CONSTANTLY hear something like, "hmmmm... that surprises me, I really expected that to do much better" or "wow, that is working far better than I thought it would"... these are always followed with the hasty expression of "everything works differently on everyone, s-why we had to try it first" or something like that.

[ClaraTaylor]

I've been on lyrca since September having been on gabapentin for several years.

I thought it was managing to control the pain better until I had a really bad week and ever since have been struggling to control the pain and still be able to think in a straight line.

[cubanito_016]

ClaraTaylor, on Feb 27 2009, 04:18 PM, said:

I've been on lyrca since September having been on gabapentin for several years.

I thought it was managing to control the pain better until I had a really bad week and ever since have been struggling to control the pain and still be able to think in a straight line.

what work better for you then the lyrica or the gabapentin?

[Yong]

i've been on both lyrica and lortab... at first lyrica seemed to help.. but lortab does wonders for me.

[edlee]

What's lortab??? Haven't heard of it.
ed

[macad]

I googled it is Vicodin - Hydrocodone APAP - Dosage - Side Effects - Drug Interactions

[Bagpuss-wheels]

cubanito_016, on Feb 20 2009, 12:00 AM, said:

Hi I really dont have Idea which one is better I wanna hear from people about their opinion on which of the this 2 meds are better from their experience.

Hi,

I'm on Neurontin (Gabapentin) and have been for a few years now. I can't take the generic Gabapentin variants, nor Lyrica as, in the UK, Lyrica contain Lactose monohydrate and Gelatin (and the generic variants of Gabapentin contain Lactose or have nut allergy warnings etc).

I can certainly tell when I've missed a dose of Gabapentin - the neuropatic pain is absolute hell! (For me, it feels like I've got teams of hedgehogs playing hedgehog football with a hedgehog football! Also, I get electric shock type sensations and intense burning, searing pain.) I am on 3x 800mg of Gabapentin daily. My GP and I worked slowly up to this dose and gave each dose level time to see if it was working or not and, if it was having some effect, what, if any side effects I was having. Despite the dose of Gabapentin I'm on, I've not had any negative side effects and can only say that I have really benefited from being on the Gabapentin.

As well as the Neurontin (Gabapentin), I am on Fentanyl patches (known as "Durogesic DTrans" in the UK - 100mcg/hr patch strength) and 10-20mg of Oramorph (up to four hourly) for 'breakthrough' pain. (What I term 'breakthrough pain' for me is pain beyond that which I can normally cope with or worse than 'usual' for me).

Different people respond differently to different medications and, it also depends what other medications (if any) you are taking as to how your body will react to whatever medication you are prescribed.

Some people swear by Gabapentin, some swear by Lyrica - I've heard people on each side of the matter saying they prefer one or the other or they have fewer side effects from one or the other. The only way you will know, providing both are suitable for you, is to try them yourself and see. Hopefully one or the other will help.


Carbamazepine and phenytoin (both unlicensed applications) may be useful for shooting or stabbing pain, but adverse effects are common. Oxcarbazepine (also unlicensed indication) is an alternative to carbamazepine. Lamotrigine (unlicensed indication) has also been used instead of Gabapentin. Carbamazepine is usually only used under close specialist guidance.


I hope you find something which helps your pain with the minimal side effects.


Best wishes,

Cat
>v,,^<

[Richard Reeves]

I have used both, be very careful with Lyrica. It made me want to kill myself. Confirmed by Doctor as a side effect.

[allis53ca]

Neurontin made me tired and affected my memory anmd i felt like a snail, slooooooooooow motion....it was hard withdrawl when i quit too.....Lyica help 50/50 or so and i only take when needed...doesn't affect my brain and no side effects if i run out.....when it works it works great, when it doesn't, its no big deal.....this is just my experience, but Lyrica is my only successful med for nerve pain, and my nerve pain is normally at about an 8

[ClaraTaylor]

allis53ca, on May 3 2009, 12:21 AM, said:

Neurontin made me tired and affected my memory anmd i felt like a snail, slooooooooooow motion....it was hard withdrawl when i quit too.....Lyica help 50/50 or so and i only take when needed...doesn't affect my brain and no side effects if i run out.....when it works it works great, when it doesn't, its no big deal.....this is just my experience, but Lyrica is my only successful med for nerve pain, and my nerve pain is normally at about an 8

I was on neurontin for a year or so - and it earnt me the nickname "Goldfish" at work - my memory was absolutely shot. I used to have to make myself notes to carry with me when I went into another room so I'd know why I'd gone in there. Withdrawal was hell - but my doctor didn't tell me to decrease the dose gradually - he just told me to stop taking them. It was not an enjoyable week (lived off tinned rice pudding).
It did however make a significant improvement to the pain level.

Now I'm on Lyrica and diclofenac sodium (the diclo because - get this for irony - I've "broken" my back again! Got an unstable joint that is causing great discomfort) both on maximum doses... and so long as I don't forget to take my next dose on time 90% of my day I'm in a low enough pain to carry on the good life. The lyrica on its own worked so much better on the neruopathic pain for me - and my memory is slowly returning. Side effects include - I now bruise like a peach and have put on weight (agh no boobs!!!)
But yes - there will be one very unpleasant fight if I have to give up the lyrica. I'm just hoping that the effectiveness doesn't wear off.

[CrazyLucky]

After a year and a half using narcotics only to control my symptoms I was placed on Lyrica. I've been on it for about a month and have had great results. I'm actually amazed when I forget a dose or run out on a weekend (it's happened twice...still getting use to being mindful of such things) how quickly the symptoms come back. Pain/spasms are there in a hurry! I take it twice a day and usually have breakthrough about 1-2 hours before my dose is due, but I'm wary of going up on the dose due to reported side effects. I would say the only side effects I have experienced is a bit of swelling in my hands and feet. Admittedly, it does chill out my mind a bit, too.

[ClaraTaylor]

CrazyLucky, on May 26 2009, 04:19 AM, said:

After a year and a half using narcotics only to control my symptoms I was placed on Lyrica. I've been on it for about a month and have had great results. I'm actually amazed when I forget a dose or run out on a weekend (it's happened twice...still getting use to being mindful of such things) how quickly the symptoms come back. Pain/spasms are there in a hurry! I take it twice a day and usually have breakthrough about 1-2 hours before my dose is due, but I'm wary of going up on the dose due to reported side effects. I would say the only side effects I have experienced is a bit of swelling in my hands and feet. Admittedly, it does chill out my mind a bit, too.

If you are not keen on having the higher dose have you considered having a word with your doctor about something for the break away pain OR having the dose in smaller tablets - i.e. same dose but in four tablets rather than two. Sounds a mite strange but my GP did this with me and it seemed to reduce the amount of break through I had.

[Trinity]

ClaraTaylor, on May 26 2009, 06:12 PM, said:

CrazyLucky, on May 26 2009, 04:19 AM, said:

After a year and a half using narcotics only to control my symptoms I was placed on Lyrica. I've been on it for about a month and have had great results. I'm actually amazed when I forget a dose or run out on a weekend (it's happened twice...still getting use to being mindful of such things) how quickly the symptoms come back. Pain/spasms are there in a hurry! I take it twice a day and usually have breakthrough about 1-2 hours before my dose is due, but I'm wary of going up on the dose due to reported side effects. I would say the only side effects I have experienced is a bit of swelling in my hands and feet. Admittedly, it does chill out my mind a bit, too.

If you are not keen on having the higher dose have you considered having a word with your doctor about something for the break away pain OR having the dose in smaller tablets - i.e. same dose but in four tablets rather than two. Sounds a mite strange but my GP did this with me and it seemed to reduce the amount of break through I had.

I agree with Clara, I split my Lyrica into 3 doses and had a far better relief than with taking it twice a day, also if you find that it's always worse at a particular time of day try just upping the one dose before, for example if your pain seems worse at night increase your evening dose slightly.

[Angel86]

I'm on Gabapentin (900 mg per day) they put me on it slowly and it has made me confused. first time i took it i put my trousers on inside out and burnt breakfast! but that has eased off a little though i am still confused however it has ment that i dont need as much codine which a bonus the way i look at it. good luck with it. stay stong

[draco12]

lyrica!

[jane]

lyrica definately

i tried gabapentin and it just spaced me out and i couldn't function. My neuro suggested lyrica and it has been brill. it has reduced my neuropathic pain, i am going to discuss with gp if i can have a little more. I agree that when you miss a dose symptoms come back quickly.

[Scribbler]

Angel86, on Jul 25 2009, 09:20 PM, said:

I'm on Gabapentin (900 mg per day) they put me on it slowly and it has made me confused. first time i took it i put my trousers on inside out and burnt breakfast! but that has eased off a little though i am still confused however it has ment that i dont need as much codine which a bonus the way i look at it. good luck with it. stay stong

I know I shouldn't, but reading your post Angel made me laugh... I had visions of you putting your trousers on inside out... Sorry about that. I hope you're ok now?

This post has been edited by Scribbler: 04 August 2009 - 02:22 PM