What else can I take? Have tried Neurontin (gabapentin) and now pregabalin... weight gain incredible. So unhappy!
What are the alternatives to Lyrica?
Question posted by Melroseg on 17 Feb 2019
Last updated on 16 April 2019
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4 Answers
Sandra Heyneman
13 April 2019
I changed to a Whole Foods plant based diet and it has helped a lot. It did take a while. I was taking amitriptyline but got off of it. Tylenol and Advil are dangerous and can damage the heart and kidneys. Make sure you’re an ideal weight and exercise 5-6 days a week. Better to try a natural approach so you don’t have awful long term effects of meds.
leesten
15 April 2019
Thank you for the input! If you don't mind me asking, for which condition did the plant-based diet help and were you on the amitriptyline in the first place?
Sandra Heyneman
16 April 2019
I changed my diet because I had peripheral neuropathy.
leesten
13 April 2019
I am looking for alternatives as well to Neurontin (gabapentin). I have either tarsal tunnel or peripheral neuropathy. I have read all the horror stories about Lyrica and Neurontin (gabapentin) and stopped taking it 3 days ago. I just started taking relief factor so not sure if it is effective or not. I also take ALA and a NO booster. I just ordered Tylenol PM to help me get to sleep and Sombra. If anyone else has any ideas for nerve pain and help to get to sleep at night, please let us know. Good luck to all!
cindy-59
13 April 2019
Hi Melroseg. I tried Lyrica for 6-7 years and I gained weight too. I was unhappy and miserable. I tried Cymbalta and I gained more weight. I gained over 80 pounds during the 10+ years while taking these drugs. I was prescribed them for chronic nerve pain and they both made my pain worse. And so many horrible side effects! I had anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. I was dizzy, confused and forgetful. I was exhausted all the time. I had hearing loss, blurry vision and I was losing my hair. My joints and muscles were swollen and so sore. My whole body was in so much pain that I ended up being bedridden for 3 years. I tapered slowly off Lyrica and I am tapering slowly off Cymbalta now. I’m down from 60 mg to 1.3 mg and almost every side effect is gone. I’m feeling like myself again and I’ve started to lose the weight. I no longer look or feel like I’m pregnant.
And the pain is gone! For me these drugs were poison and I will never take another medication like them again. Have you researched Natural Remedies on Google? Take care and I really do wish you the best. Cindy59
Hnicolap
13 April 2019
so sorry about your terrible side effects. Amazing that having been prescribed all those meds you are now pain free!!! What exactly was the condition you were diagnosed with if I may ask? Why do you think your pain is now gone and what does your doctor think?
cindy-59
13 April 2019
Hi Hnicolap. I had a bad fall and hit my head. I started having horrible pain on the left side of my face and after many years I was finally diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia and was prescribed Lyrica and Cymbalta. They only didn’t help with the pain I had but caused me overall body pain. My muscles and joints had burning pain. I had an unbelievable amount of side effects. A few years ago I saw a neurologist and he prescribed me a different medication that took my TN pain away so I decided to quit taking Lyrica and Cymbalta. But I soon learned that I had to taper off slowly. Now after 4 years of tapering and being off Lyrica and down to 1.3 mg of Cymbalta I am in no pain at all. I am starting to feel like myself again. I actually have a new doctor now because my old doctor didn’t believe that the non existent life I had was because of Lyrica and Cymbalta. He also didn’t believe that they needed to be very slowly tapered.
It was like all he wanted to do was keep prescribing me the medications. I have a new doctor now and she has helped me with everything and she believes what I tell her. I wish I would have got a new doctor years ago. I hope I’ve answered your questions. Cindy59
Hnicolap
13 April 2019
that is wonderful that you are so much better, I wish you the very best going forward. A good dr. is so important but I think you also have to often take some initiative. Amy neuro wants me to change from gaba to nortryptiline (sp?) but I am leery of experiencing the same side effects I have since gotten past except the short term memory loss and anxiety while possibly having no effect on my pain. I am considering trying Lyrica.
cindy-59
13 April 2019
I do agree that as patients we need to take the initiative; but I have to say that it’s very hard to do anything let alone think straight when your brain seems to be on pause. My husband (ex now) was friends with our doctor so whatever he said was right. In the state that I was in I was blessed that I had my 5 children on my side and made the decisions that needed to be made. At first they thought I was getting worse because of the fall but then they realized it was from the Lyrica and Cymbalta. I was in my late 40’s when I fell and started having the pain from Trigeminal Neuralgia. I am not sure if you know anything about TN but it is known as ‘The Suicide Disease’ because many have committed suicide because of not being able to take the pain. I thought about it many times over the years; but thankfully I never acted on it.
With this type of horrible pain in my face every second of every day (except when I was sleeping) I could hardly think so I trusted my doctor to do what was best for me. Before my fall the only thing I would take was a Tylenol; but only if I absolutely had to.
I don’t know much about Nortriptyline so I looked it up and what I could find is that there isn’t as many side effects as Lyrica or Cymbalta. As far as Lyrica goes I believe it would be in your best interest to check out ‘Lyrica Survivors’ on Facebook so that if you decide to take it you will know what to look for in regards to people who have taken it. There is a lot of good information in the files that you might find interesting. I hope you find what you need to help you. Take care. Cindy59
Ros 2
21 Feb 2019
Sorry to hear about your weight gain. These particular drugs have an issue with that. I have been taking Lyrica since 2008 (100mg -125mg a day). My weight is 111lbs. at this point - prior to that I was usually (6) pounds less. Be careful what you eat and how much. Make sure that you exercise also! What do you take these drugs for and the dosage, if I may ask?
My Rheumatologist prescribed Lyrica for fibromyalgia & nerve pain. Lyrica helps with tight muscles & is considered a better drug then gabapentin, but of course much more expensive!
Related topics
lyrica, neurontin, peripheral neuropathy, weight loss (obesity/overweight), gabapentin, pregabalin, weight, neuropathic pain
Further information
- Lyrica uses and warnings
- Neurontin uses and warnings
- Gabapentin uses and warnings
- Pregabalin uses and warnings
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