Lyrica vs. gabapentin. What are your thoughts?

Lyrica made my heart race horribly. I was sitting in bed and my heart was racing at 140bpm after taking only 25mg of Lyrica. With Gabapentin I do get mild heart racing whenever I raise my dose, but it’s manageable compared to what I experienced on Lyrica.

The Gabapentin helps with the nerve pain, but I take it together with Tramadol. I take Tramadol 50mg and Gabapentin 400mg 3 times a day. Then I have an extra dose of Tramadol 50mg to take at bedtime if the pain is really bugging me a lot. This schedule is working pretty well for me, I feel like I have a decent quality of life now. Both of these medications are in the preferred treatments for neuropathy - Gabapentin is tier 1 and Tramadol is tier 2.

Hi!
I'm new here and I have a pressing question regarding how to switch from Neurontin to Lyrica. I have been on Neurontin for severe peripheral nerve pain since 2001. Now the side effects are so bad - especially the "Brain Fog" and myalgia (muscle pain) that my pain specialist doctor wants me to switch from Neurontin to Lyrica. He says I have to gradually go off Neurontin before starting with Lyrica, but after 20 years I REALLY know that if I forget my 600mg pill one of the three times a day I take it, the pain becomes unbearable till the next pill has been in my body for a few hours. Have any of you gone directly from Neurontin to Lyrica from one day to the next without tapering? I underdstand that if you use these medications for epilesy it can be dangerous to go directly from full doses of one to full doses of the other, - but for nerve pain? I wonder if it is a problem in any way. Have any of you experiences to share regarding this?
All the best to every one of you from me in Norway!

The opposite, gabapentin for around 10 years then I was switched to Lyrica.I find it smoother now.Less stomach issues , no more gabapentin bubble guts.

I have been over taking gabapentin for years and now I can’t stop taking them as I am ill forever it never goes away I am so scared and just want off of it completely there is no help just ‘weaning off’ I am scared I will have a seizure if I stop I run out all the time and I get very nervous, here I am looking for a magical cure, the five minute miracle if you will and there just isn’t one. Anyone considering taking gabs just don’t, exercise, eat well and live with the pain cus it definitely doesn’t go away with gabs and then you’re just stuck in a loop of taking them forever

Was diagnosed with neuropathy and prescribed Gabapentin about 4 years ago. Despite increasing the dosage—it never worked for me. Lyrica has saved my quality of life tremendously! I am on 150 mg twice a day if anyone is interested! Also, I didn’t have any side effects that I noticed with Gabapentin, but possibly memory loss with Lyrica? Gonna talk to my Dr about it at my next visit.

I'm taking 300mg Gabapentin 3x a day for sciatica and i feel as much pain as when I was taking nothing. I'm nowhere near the max, yet, though. I haven't noticed anything. No side effects, no positives.

I've been on gabapentin for over 5 years now. I have not had any side affects . It helps with my pain.

I’ve had sciatica pain for almost 2 yrs and have been taking gabapentin for 9 mths. It helped me at first but in the past couple of mths it has been causing me to get this real bitter taste in my mouth. As far as I know this is not listed as a side effect but should be. My Dr. advised me just this week to stop taking it but I quit taking it a couple weeks ago and have almost gotten the bitter taste gone. I was researching other medications and saw that Lyrica was an option. Does anyone know if that helps too?

in response to Anglealita, I was originally prescribed 100mg3x/day, then increased to 200mg3/day. within 2 days I cut back to 100mg./day at night since that was when my symptoms were the worst and after 7mo. increased to 200mg. and recently increased to 300mg./day at night. I have small fiber neuropathy in my feet and hands and it started suddenly 15 months ago. I would suggest staying with the lowest dose and if your symptoms get worse you can always increase. No sense in going higher to begin with, the drug doesn’t help the problem, just the pain. I choose not to take any gabapentin during the day because the pain is tolerable. My side effects are dizziness, short term memory loss, and lack of patience. I also take R-Ala 2/day. I am hoping my neuropathy doesn’t get worse but for now it is manageable. Good luck to you.

I have post herpetic neuralgia and fibromyalgia. I have taken both gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica). I had to stop taking the pregabalin because my insurance refused to pay for them when they increased the price. My doctor switched me to gabapentin, it was no fun going off of pregabalin after taking it for several years, I had anxiety and insomnia. It took weeks of tapering and I was taking gabapentin also. The gabapentin seems to be about half as effective as pregabalin for nerve pain and has more negative side effects so I'm reluctant to increase the dose. I prefer the pregabalin. The patent for pregabalin is supposed to expire this month (June 2019) so hopefully there will be generics available before too long.

I had a horrible experience with Lyrica. It made me dizzy and in fact I fell down and hit my head on my coffee table and had to go to the E.R. So I ended the med quick as I started it. As well, the price is forbidding. I've been taking Gabapentin ever since. The doctor prescribed 800 mg 3 times a day. I find I really don't need the med during the day--it's at night when I need to sleep that the pain of Fibromyalgia begins, just when I DON'T need it. I like to quip that when I lie down the Fibromyalgia lies down with me. Some bed partner! (lol) What I've found that works for me is I take all 3 tablets 2 hours before hitting the proverbial hay (it takes about 2 hours for the Gabapentin to "kick in"). So I take 2400 mg of Gabapentin before retiring and I'm able to get a good night's sleep. The only side-effect I experience is a runny nose--a small price to pay for the benefits the medication gives.

FYI
For anyone that lyrica works for and you cant afford it, or it throws you in the doughnut hole!! Most doctors have paperwork to fill out regarding income etc. They sign the paperwork send it to Pfizer, once approved you fax your script (my doctor handles this service for me!) They fedx your lyrica to your door, they do require a signature. Its all free of any charges.
If you dont have a doctor that will help you contact pfizer yourself!
I have been getting mine free for 2 years now!
I hope this helps those of you that lyrica provides RELIEF for!
Do not google any other people willing to do it all for you, they charge for their services!!!
Contact Pfizer directly, I cant find the number at the moment Im more than unorganized!!!
You should be able to google it!
I will look for the number and repost tomorrow. My apologies
I hope this info helps someone in need. I was!

I didn’t do well on either of these meds.
Lyrica, came out when- the patent was up for Neurontin. It’s not much different. Less, weight gain with Neurontin than, Lyrica is basically it. I had the same side effects from both medications... Gabapentin Is just generic form of Neurontin... maybe, try a different generic pharma company before- giving up. They all have “Gabapentin” in their formula but, all use different compounds. Pfizer, is known to come out with a new medication especially, whenever- their patents coming up... Pfizer-even, makes their own generic medications... maybe try to look up and see if, it’s available.
I hope that you feel better! I have been through this & know it all too well you’re not alone for sure!

Personally i prefer lyrica even though it is more expensive.
My Dr. Signed me up with Pfizer and i get it free in the mail.
Gabapentin helped me sleep is about all. Really just made me tired all the time.
My vote: lyrica for nerve pain!
You should always go with what works for you and if it adds to your quality of life?
I dont know what your side effects are, but do they out weigh the pain?