Tee6759Hey Folks, I talked with my doctor yest over coming off Lyrica because it didn't seem to be working. I also feel its responsible for my falls. I took another bad fall in the wee hours of the morn. I struck my ribs on the corner of my coffee table and landed hard onto my left shoulder. I never had issues like this on gabapentin. I know Lyrica is the better med but I can't take many more falls. I'm so tired of living with all this pain. Its really starting to get the best of me. The doc suggested gabapentin. At least this would be one I could afford.
I'm hoping there might be others who have had to switch because of side effects of Lyrica. It has affected my stability and my vision. If anyone else has experienced this on Lyrica, please let me hear from you. My anxiety is off the chain and this is not helping my situation at all. Anything you can offer in any way as moral, support is greatly appreciated.
Seeking peace,
Tee
Gabapentin instead of Lyrica?
- Posted:
- 17 Jul 2012 by Tee6759
- Topics:
- lyrica, peripheral neuropathy, anxiety, fibromyalgia, periodic limb movement disorder, gabapentin, doctor
Responses (12)
17 Jul 2012
Hi Tee, sorry to hear you have fallen, hope you didn't hurt yourself too much. I am taking Lyrica 150mg at bedtime, and the past 3 days whilst I was still in the hospital they put the Gabapentin up from 100mg three times a day to 300mg three times a day. When the dose was at 100mg I didn't feel any different, but when they put it at 300mg later that day I felt a difference in my pain level. I wasn't keen on going on another drug but I must admit it is helping, especially with my lower back pain. I don't know if it is helping this much because I am on both medications but it might be worth a try to ask your Dr if you could be on both, if one or the other drug doesn't help. hope this helps, take care and no more falls.Liz.
Anonymous 17 Jul 2012
Hi Tee! I thought you knew I was on Lyrica, & now consider another evil drug! Yes, it causes blurry vision. Sometimes I couldn't even read the computer screen. It also causd me to gain so much water weight, I developed high blood pressure from it. I have heard that gabepentin can do this too, but I haven't heard of that many people it has done it to. My hubby takes gabepentin & it helps him sleep, plus helps with his pain issues. good luck, girl. Hope this one helps you out. You deserve a break(& not from a fall!)... Mary
Anonymous 17 Jul 2012
Wow liz! We must have been typing at the same moment or something! Your answer wasn't there when I started my answer to Tee. How are you doing?
ukliz
17 Jul 2012
Hi Mary,
You know what Mary yesterday and today my vision is really blury, so I wonder if it is the Gabapentin that's doing this do you think. Hope you don't mind me asking this Tee, Liz.
Darling Di17 Jul 2012
I'm so sorry to hear you have been falling! Ouch! I remember when I was first put on Lyrica in 2008 I had bad side effects- dizzy, off balance, poor short term memory, food tasting weird- too salty, then too spicy (like ketchup!), very dry mouth, etc. This was at 300mg. I always attributed these things to the Lyrica but couldn't be sure because I was on a ton of meds after lots of surgeries. I also fell 3 or 4 times! One fall I even broke my big toe so badly they wanted to do surgery on it & put a pin in it! I said no to that. I have taken the 300mg over the course of the day, & also tried it all at night- didn't see any difference. I accidentally stopped taking it for about 10 days & I hurt so much so then I felt like it was worth taking. I'm still taking it today at 300mg. About 2years ago my husband & I separated temporarily & I was SO anxious, couldn't stop crying, couldn't sleep, etc.
Tee6759
19 Jul 2012
Dear Di,
Thank you for the words of comfort and support. I have been told to taper off the Lyrica immed. Its is causing a lot of my troubles. I'm going to see if the doc will give me gabapentin instead. At least I can afford that one. I have friend ed you so anytime you want to talk, just let me know.
Thanks,
Tee
Darling Di
20 Jul 2012
Hi Tee, good to have you as a friend! I hope you didn't take my personal saga about my experiences with Lyrica & Gabapentin as a suggestion as to what you should do. I never want to tell others what they should do- opposite to that - I'm a big supporter of "everyone is different & everyone is affected by meds differently"!!! I used to educate the entire mental health portion of the company I worked for & that is the main thing I would say. I was hoping that I validated your experiences of falling while on Lyrica not that that's a great thing but at least you know you are not the only one who has gone thru that! I'm so glad to hear that you were able to get your MD involved immediately & get off the Lyrica & be supported in your need to try something different. I would live to hear how the gabapentin works for you! Who knows maybe I'll try it w/o the lyrica one of these days. :) I hope you feel much better asap!
msfino17 Jul 2012
Hey Tee, I am so sorry to hear that you are STILL in pain, and that nothing is helping. I really am. I know how frustrating that is, truly. Why do you think that I haven't been around but bits and pieces for so long? I understand. You mentioned that you heard that the Lyrica was the better medicine. NO medicine is better. Different meds work different on different people. that is why they are trying to develop meds based on your genetic code. (one of the true benefits of big pharma, if they actually can pull that one off!!) The best medicine is the one that works on YOU the best!! Falling down because of a medicine is NOT a good medicine, no matter what anyone else says. Many people have been very successful with the gabapentin, so don't think that it is inferior.
pledge
17 Jul 2012
I agree msfino! well said, enjoy the sauna! my turn to wink ;-0)
msfino
17 Jul 2012
LOL, Pledge :P
pledge17 Jul 2012
Oh Tee alias seeking peace. I hope that some of the peace comes your way. You are a trooper, admired by all. Always there with kindness and compassion for others, may the winds of serenity flow into your world and may they be pain free!! Be well, and take heart in that better times do come our way, pledge
ukliz
17 Jul 2012
That was nicely put Pledge, so sweet. Liz.
pledge
18 Jul 2012
Thank you Liz. I hope you are doing well. keep us updated if you might. Have a great week and hope that you are now at home and feeling a lot better!
kaismama
butterfly...17 Jul 2012
I am on both Lyrica & Gabapentin but I have not had any problems with falling on the Lyrica.
I have been on Lyrica for about 7 yrs for Fibro.
I also take Gabapentin 900 mg 3x day which is a high dosage. But I take the Gabapentin for 3 conditions, Fibro, Neurophathy & Hot Flashes due to Menopause. Gabapentin is a good drug & does not have too many side effects.
I hope your dr. puts you on this & you stop falling, that is Dangerous !!
Stay safe & I hope you start feeling better soon.
Kathy
papasam17 Jul 2012
Hey Tee, so sorry to hear of your fall and I pray all is well with you. I suffer from some pinched nerves in my back and have a lot of pain and numbness in my leg as a result. Gabapentin has been a very good drug for me. Mainly because I do not feel addicted to it. It is a drug I can take as needed and not take it a a regimen. I am not sure if this can work for you but I know I found a lot of relief with this drug. Best to you and I hope you recover from the fall so soon.
jomomo5920 Jul 2012
I am on gabapintin after coming off of Savella. I have gradually went from 900 mg a day to 1800 mg a day. I find that the gabapintin has fewer side effects for me than the Savella did, down side, weight gain and drifting thoughts. The Savella took me four months to adjust too, and then it worked for maybe 2 months. Then the really bad side effects hit, and I'm still getting rid of them. I have not tried Lyrica my doctor has said that if I do not get some relief at the 1800 mg a day on gabapintin that she wants to combine Savella and Gab. I get frustrated with the pain, I still work full time thank God but I do not see being able to for another five years. I am in my early 50's was diagnosed with fibro about four years ago. I do not want to go to pain management in order to get pain meds for this, however with the current rate of addicts out there, looks like I am going to have to. Amazes me, a disease such as this, and we cannot get pain relief, but if someone who is addicted gets a tooth pulled they get Percocet.
Tee6759
20 Jul 2012
Welcome to DC, Jomomo. I see you have been using gabapentin for a while now. I'm talking to my pain doctor in the morning to see about using it in place of the LYRICA. I will never use that drug again. It caused blurred vision, double vision, and I've had some really bad falls while taking it. This was after they doubled me to 300mg 2x a day. My family doctor took one look at me in her office and said that was it. My pain doc had already told me to taper off immediately. He was gonna give me gabapentin before but didn't because I was on the other. I've also been on Savella for 2 years without issues. But now I have to stop bc the law says as of August 1, the doctors can no longer give out samples of any medications. So there goes that drug for me. I'm hoping the gabapentin will work for me.
I have friended you so anytime you want to talk more about this, feel free to catch up with me and we can discuss this. I could use a friend in dealing with gabapentin. Have a great one.
In peace,
Tee
butterflylynn
20 Jul 2012
Jomomo,
I don't understand the doctor wanting you to go to a narcotic if 1800 mg day of Gabapentin. I take 2700 mg Gabapentin a day so your Dr. can raise it up alot higher than 1800 mg. I would suggest that you have her increase it before starting a narcotic.
But if all fails pain management drs. Know how to help you with your pain.
I have had Fibromyalgia for 35 yrs. And yes it is Very frustrating that someone cannot come up with a cure. I do see a pain mngmt dr. & he is the best... But if you have to see a pain Dr. & the things they do or give thou are not helping definately find a new one. You will find ALOT of pain drs. Will only want to do various injections that usually do not help most Fibro patients. Then you have the ones that really do not believe in Fibro pain. The good ones are hard to find. But I would encourage your dr. you have to just try & increase the Gabapemtin. Good luck, Kathy
jomomo59
coddro26 Jan 2013
Hi Tee--The falls may well be from spinal problems i.e. bulging discs causing pinched nerves without local associated pain. My falls got worse and worse.My right ankle would twist easily. My right hand began to wither and I could no longer button clothes.Thought I had Lou Gehrigs disease.My right leg became dead weight. Could barely get around with a walker. All caused by 3 cervical bulging discs and ,as mentioned, I had zero pain in my cervical(neck) area. If your falls and/or balance issues get worse--get a spinal MRI. Painless 3 hr. surgery--leg and hand almost normal after 36 hrs--- had 4 wks. rehab however as I had begun to shrivel away--may well NOT be your prob--- but just a word to the wise--good luck and Godspeed--Coddro
Tee6759
26 Jan 2013
Dear Coddro,
Im so sorry to hear of your situation. I know the pain mustve been unbearable! It was determined that my siuation was due to the Lyrica. Once I stopped taking Lyrica, my issues were resolved. I now take 1800mg of Gabapentin instead. It has made a big difference! I hope your situation is resolved soon. I have a fusion of C3 thru C7 . I cannot have MRI's done due to the pacemaker for my stomach.
I hope you are doing well by now. Take care and I wish you good health.
Seeking peace,
Tee
amajaden Tee6759
26 Jan 2013
Hi, Amajaden! Im glad that the gabapentin is working so well for you. Im taking 1800mg per day and it seems to be helping. It's nice to meet you. Thanks for responding. Take care and I wish you good health.
Seeking peace,
Tee
19 Apr 2013
My issue has been so far as gabapentetin is concerned. I could take a handful of the 300 mg and not feel a thing but, it did help my pain but only slightly I take other things as well for pain and live comfortable. I recently changed to Lyrica and they decided since I was on gb. for so long at 300, 4 times a day, they gave me the same Lyrica when my insurance was able to pay for it after it was approved for my issue, which are Peripheral Neuropathy from a shortage of good food as I was serving if foreign countries and eating their food with relatively no meat at all. I had anemia for years before It was found in tests. By then the damage was done and although my diet and supplements are good he pain continues to go over my body. it is now in my hands, and from there I have no idea as its already taken over my feet and legs. I am taking 500 mg off Lyrica this is my first week off Gp to Lyrica. My problem is over sleeping fear of driving.
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I am sorry to hear your having such a hard time! I personally didn't like either medication! Gabapentin was worse though. I know when my mom used it she said it felt like some one was pulling her muscles from the joints off. My dad hated it too. I didn't see any effect but weight gain. I just started voltaren. It is a NSAID, but I started on 50mg twice day, (it can go up) and I saw immediate relief. I was on celebrex and saw nothing. This stopped my back pain and neck pain, and shoulder pain, for almost 12 hours! I love it, and so do a lot of other people. Might be worth a try.
Thanks, the more I hear about both drugs the more I think did I do the right thing in going on them. I tried a long time agao to get of Lyrica, but I had really bad side affects. The pharmacist even made capsules to take me down at a lower rate, but even then I was thrown into a really bad withdraw. Plus people would say but this should not happen with this drug, but this is where the point of everyone is different. I guess my body is so sensitive to anything it has or do to it, that it is really hard to cope with. So I just stay on the drug now and except the weight gain, but I will look into this drug you mentioned and maybe I will talk again to the Doctor about it, thanks Liz.
Hey Liz and Joiey, according to my doctor, I need to come off Lyrica right away. I was on 2 caps per day of 300mg a day. Now I'm down to 1 capsule a day for 2 weeks. Then I take 1 cap every other day for a week and I'm done. Its caused me to be too scared to drive. Its caused me to feel scared about a lot of things. At times I can barely walk without fear of falling. My vision is blurred and at times, I see double. It has really caused me to be depressed. I have to go thru a test I hate. Its a shock test done on my arm to determine. Everyone here thinks I'm this tough strong person but right now I fell like I'm going to fall apart and burst into tears. I need to go now. Gotta get myself together .
Seeking peace,
Tee
Oh, I feel your pain! It's an EMG your going to have. I have those many times. Try not to think about it. The most painful part for me was righ under my thumb, ouch! :( I am glad your getting off the Lyrica, I hope you can find a good medicine to help you. It is so much now trial and error that it really is tough. A week feels like a month! I am going through med trials with son, awful. I wish you the best, and hopefully with your doses being lowered you will stop falling. Try and have an OK night, We are all here for you! :0 We feel your pain and want to help, don't be ashamed to cry, I am sure we all have once or twice! ;)