Lyrica vs. gabapentin. What are your thoughts?

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?

I'm on lyrica and it's helping my fibromyalgia pain a lot. My insurance only allows 3 x 100mg a day. I'm going through some awful anxiety problems due my mother suffering terribly in her last days. So my doctor increased it to 4 times and day. But I have to pay for the difference. Stupid insurance telling my doctor what I can have is utterly rediculus. So my daughter gave me some of her gabapentin and it helped a lot.

I have been taking gabapebtin for almost 2 years now and have reached the maximum dose. I have experienced a large amount of the side affects and weight gain has always been one of the hard ones for me. There are times with my working day, where I might miss taking my meds and this caused me lots of problems. Since starting to work for the NHS recently, I've been looking at other medications to treat DDD and FMS. I'm going to switch to Pregabalin next week. There is still a risk of the weight issue, however, should I miss my meds, I will be able to take them as soon as I remember, as they absorb into the body a heck of a lot faster than gabapebtin. There is less waste as well, as the body absorbes more of the pregabalin.

I will update you in a few months time!

Good morning,
I have no idea what gabapentin is. I take lyrica and endep along with
125 fempatch. Everyone was concerned at the effect lyrica does to your body, I have read pamplet and spoke to the specialist. His reply was, with your pain there is nothing better to take. So where I had cut the endep in half, have gone back to taking 1. My big problem is my eye sight. Have you found this a problem?

Had finger completely amputated followed by 3 more surgeries to relieve nerve paid. I was unable to use my hand. Lyrica has really helped. Pain reduced from 8 to 2. Started with 50mg, now at 350mg. I am worried about maxing out at 600mg, as I have only been taking it for 2 years. No side effects, except for vivid dreams.

Hi everyone -- I don't know how to pose a question on this site, so I'm asking here. Both Lyrica and Gabapentin resulted in my having severe headaches. Has this happened to anyone?

I'm taking 900mg of Gabapentin daily for Fibromyalgia along with Naproxen 500mg daily to control pain. However, the side effects of Gabapentin are terrible: fingernails split in layers & hair falls out. Lyrica worked really good after appropriate dosage was achieved. The problem for me was that as Lyrica is still not available in a generic form & now I'm back where I started. If you can tolerate the initial side effects & you can afford it; my suggestion is to go back on Lyrica!

I started out takinvg 100mg Neurontin 3xday and over years worked up to 600mg 3xday. Combined with Tramadol, it controlled the pain and gave me energy. After 10 years, i developed extreme anxiety. Just weaned off Neurontin and switched to Lyrica. Lyrica controls the pain about 3 1/2 hours. (50mg) i noticed a little stomach discomfort but that's all. I eat a pickle a day for constipation. Works great! Still have ridiculous anxiety. Did the Neurontin guve me this? Anyone else had this problem?

Everyone reacts differently to these meds.
At times, I think they may have misdiagnosed because those meds are for neuropathic pain. Perhaps the pain is visceral or another category.
First... you need right type of pain to choose drug of choice.
Second... you need the appropriate med after determining the classification.
Third... you need to have the right dose prescribed. This part is where people get disgusted and stop taking the meds. The drug doesn't work and the next appt is in 2 months. Another 2 months of suffering. If you don't feel an improvement in 2 weeks CALL the office. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease".
Fourth... Try an anti-depressant that has found to have an effect on neuro pain.
Cymbalta is the most commonly used one.
If anyone can add to this list I would appreciate it :
Wellbutrin

BTW... A doctor at a major university mentioned Lyrica is not as effective as what they may advertise.
All I know is they make you gain weight!
:-)

2 b honest, I have tried BOTH, at MAXIMUM dosage, n I swear NEITHER of them ain't worth a S*** 4 my LONG LASTING PAIN of my particular case of Diabetic Neuropathy that I have, in BOTH feet n calves, n sometimes even legs! The type of pain that feels close 2 a BURNING gun shot, as BEST as I can describe it. Sometimes the PAIN wakes me up from a DEAD SLEEP! There's NOTHING I can do but BITE THE BULLET! I CAN'T even go 2 the bathroom I CAN'T WALK!