Dearest Sjogren's Angels,
I'm wondering about switching from Gabapentin to Pregabalin.
I'm hoping for fewer side effects and more complete effectiveness with neuropathy discomfort.
Any thoughts or experiences?
Hugs, Elaine
I had more side-effects with the Lyrica vs the Neurontin. But I maxed out on the dose of Neurotin after a few years, so had to switch. I wasn't able to tolerate the Lyrica...the ZOMBIE medication, as many have the side-effect. I couldn't be functional while taking it.
I struggled for a few years trying to find something else that worked. Last August the pain mgmt doctor suggested Fentanyl patch (as it is very effective for nerve pain) and i have done great on that with no side-effects at all. Not sure you can do this, Elaine as I know you have problems with narcotics. But the patch works differently, so might be worth a try if you find Lyrica doesn't help or you are a zombie after taking it...LOL
What side-effects do you have with the Neurontin? I thought you were doing well on this medication.
I had some rather nasty side effects to both.
For me gabapentin made me sleepy and stupid, and Lyrica gave me hallucinations. I haven't had good luck with most of these brain altering drugs.
I am afraid that the only way to find out is to try it. Everyone is so different.
I am also on the Fentanyl patch which works perfectly for me.
SjoDry
I'm just sooooo sleepy on Gabapentin. Otherwise, I haven't noticed anything major.
But hallucinations would probably be worse....or more interesting?
I don't know about the Fentanyl patch. I mean I've heard of it, but that's about it.
To be continued.
Hugs, Elaine
Gabapentin made turned me into a emotional mess, so I stopped taking it. My Dr. now has me trying different cocktails of drugs applied topically to my feet for the neuropathy pain. The first one didn't work, so I'm now trying a second one. It takes up to 7 weeks to see if it's working. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Lyrica caused me way more trouble than gabapentin. I don't take either one anymore.
Well, both drugs are tested on thousands if not millions, under controlled circumstances.....
Which means, like so many other things, we who have Immune Disorder react different from most people and different from each other.
And of course an individual's reaction is completely useless in knowing what to do...but I think we all just automatically look to touch base with other people..
I think I'll try to Lyrica, if my doctor agrees. I can always go back to Gabapentin, right?
It's not a life or death or a 'no turning back' sort of decision.
Dear Irish and Anita, and so many others of you, managing so many conditions and treatments....it's a full time job!
And I thought being young, beautiful and reasonably made up and dressed was work! (plus periods, babies, and so on).
But this getting old(er) is truly serious business.
I've already turned some of my clocks ahead.......
Hugs, Elaine
Make sure you ask your doctor for taper instructions...it will take a LONG time to get off the Neurontin before you can start the Lyrica, at the high dose you're taking. There is withdrawal syndrome, so you can't just stop it cold turkey. Of course, you will have increased pain during this taper, but maybe he can start the Lyrica when you get down on the neurontin (lower dose), so you might take both for a short time as you finish the taper. Good luck and keep us posted.
Gabapentin works for me. The other caused me to feel unreal.
susanep
Neurontin was the first med my rheumatologist started me on for the Small Fiber Neuropathy pain symptoms. I can remember the dose was increased a couple of times. Although it helped for the pain, I had terrible side effects like sleepiness and zombie effect to the point that it was embarrassing.So I was switched to Lyrica.
---My neurologist said the best med for SFN is Amitriptyline ( an antidepressant). And a combination of Lyrica and Amitriptyline was recommended.
I have been on these for 2 - 3 years now with a steady dose. High dose of Lyrica, but I can only tolerate a low dose of Amitriptyline. And this has kept the symptoms fairly stable.
I also use a prescription compound cream for topical use on the skin during periods of flares. It is called: Compound cream, Baclophen 2 %, CYCB 2%, Lidocane 10 % Gel.
Good luck with trying Lyrica. Hope it helps you.
What strength of Lyrica and amiitriptyline are you taking.im having trouble with my asthma and tapering on prednisone,only sleep 2-3 hours a day.i just started Lyrica about 8 days ago and was on amiitriptyline but took me off it.
I take Amitriptyline 30 mg at bed time. The neurologist wanted me to taper up to a max dose of 60 mg , but I can only take 30 due to side effect This is a small dose. I have been on this for 2 years -- This med is also effective for Migrane, which I also have, so therefor this drug was also a good choice. It is actually an antidepressant med, but is being used for neuropathy pain.-- To start, usually one start with 10 mg daily for 1 or 2 weeks, then taper up by 10 mg. etc. I used to bu awake at night with neuropathy pain sooooo much. Amitriptyline put a stop to that.
I take Lyrica 150 mg twice daily. (I used to on 100 mg 3 times daily) This is a fairly high dose, but I had been on Neurontin,( Gabapentin ) before.So the doctor probably would start you on a lower dose.
Hope the doctor find something that works for you
I had problems with both.
Weight gain mostly .
With Lyrica my feet swelled too.
I thin Lyrica worked a little better though.
I have Gabapentin in my facial cream for facial neuralgia. Works well and have not noticed side effects. The cream has Gabapentin, lidocaine and capsaicin. Recently, I've been putting it on my bad toe which is unclear what is wrong with it. Sort if we arthritic...very unsure. It is helping my toe (s). I am a big believer in these compounded creams.
I use Voltaren Gel compound and it helps with mild nerve and arthritis pain in my hands, but not the major neuropathy pain in my feet, legs, etc
I've heard very good things about Voltaran gel...I'm glad you reminded me of that.
Neurontin made me zombie like and Lyrica made me spaced out, lethargic and I gained weight.
My pain is controlled by a patch that has worked well with no side effects or sleepiness.It's called Butrans (bupenorphine). Once a week I change it. It gave me my life back.
I ran out of my gabapentin, and I seen the rhuemy and he called in all my meds, but forgot that one. I have been hurting with a lot of nerve pain, but can't call them until Monday. I can really tell a difference in my nerve pain level when on it.
susanep
Susan, I hope you get your RX soon. It isn't a good idea to stop Gabapentin suddenly.
Gramma, Buprenorphine is the ingredient in Suboxone, the RX used to treat opioid addiction. It is also an opioid, which means the patch would probably cause me the reactions I get from all opioids. But maybe not? I'll follow up on this with my neurologist.
Hugs, Elaine
I took Gabapentin for a month but was away with the fairies for most of that time so was taken off that and have now been taking Pregabalin (Lyrica) for a week. I have had no side effects and it is already having a positive effect on my neuropathy. So I am feeling hopeful.
I have to say I am astonished at the amount of drugs and supplements you take in the US reading your histories......many more than here in the UK.
Hello Everyone,
For me (it obviously doesn/t work for everyone), gabapentin is one the greatest pain relievers that has ever been invented for skeletal pain, neuropathy, and nerve pain.
I was very gratefully put on gabapentin for some years, then switched to Lyrica when it came out. I was on Lyrica for about two years, then went back to gabapentin.
Gabapentin and Lyrica are slightly different chemically, however, I found them to be very similar in effect and in side effects.
After two years on Lyrica, I abandoned Lyrica to return to gabapentin for two reasons: most important was that I believe gabapentin is a bit stronger for the equivalent dose, and secondly gabapentin has many more 300mg capsules for an equivalent dose of Lyrica so it is easier to spread the gabapentin dose smoothly over a 24-hour period.
One comment is that gabapentin didn't work for me until I hit 900mg/day.
I believe the medical gabapentin documentation says that it can be discontinued suddenly without any problems. Of course, I could be wrong about that, however, I did research that issue in the distant past when I stopped gabapentin abruptly several times without any problems.
Of course I agree that it is still a good idea to taper off any medicine of any kind slowly though - if you have luxury of time to do that, and are not in an emergency situation.