Gabapentin to Lyrica?

I think some people get better results from pregabalin (lyrica) vs. gabapentin, and some people don't. Pregabalin is basically a newer derivative of gabapentin. The two drugs are quite similar in structure and function. However, pregabalin supposedly has a better side effect profile (but it is also much more expensive). From professional experience (albeit with dogs), I think that if you respond to one, you are more likely to respond to the other. However, if there is no response to one, you are less likely (but not impossible) to see a response from the other. Whether the quality of relief you get from one drug vs the other is different or not seems to depend on the patient. It is often the side effect profile that is more noticeably different, if anything. But if you are getting some, but not enough relief from the gabapentin, it may be worth trying pregabalin and seeing if it is any better for you. Personally, I didn't get much relief from either medication (despite maxing out on the dosage) & I had unacceptable side effects from both.

Skeye

Thank you both. I'm going to see my palliative care doctor tomorrow and sounds like it's at least worth discussing with him and maybe giving it a try.

I've been on Gaba for 14 years on and off, for the last two I have been maxed a 2400mg per day but for a couple of months I was taking 7200mg/day. . .you read correctly. It was a knee jerk reaction I made to needing it all of a sudden and not remembering how much I took. . .one day I walked outside and BAMI, massive chord pain. I went in an took a three 800s of old stock and stayed on it until I got an appointment.

To my understanding these drugs are neurotransmitter inhibitors and their effect is asymptotic. That means, once they inhibit, say 90% of the neurotransmitters, adding more medicine, at best, can only give you another 10% improvement. Again, to my understanding, this is the reason I dont think it is possible to OD on them. So more and more just cant do anything else, but a sudden reduction in dosage could cause seizures. I switched to Lyrica and kept increasing the dose under doctors guidance until my short-term memory became so bad I was repeating things I just said. It freaked my friends out so bad that they compelled me to switch back. Lyrica didn't help as well as the Gaba and the price differential was unbelievable. . .but I am glad you are seeing benefit.

I would not live without gaba, but I sure wish it did more. Keep trying new stuff and do what you can to stay in tolerable pain. So far, hypnosis and EMDR have given me relief on par with Fentanyl. I call them jedi mind tricks, but they are cheap, go into effect immediately, and dont have drug side effects.

I wish you the best, hope this is of some value to you.

Well, the Lyrica honeymoon ended. After about ten days on 75mgx3, my pain started to increase and I started getting side effects like when I'd tried 300mgx5 gabapentin per day--major fatigue, brain fog, depression. I'd read about people doing well on Lyrica at first, then having it not work, and apparently I'm one of them. So I'm back to the gabapentin 300mgx4 again.

I have a book, "The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing" that mentions Hypericum Perforatum as a remedy for any kind of nerve pain. It recommends 30c potency, two to three times a day.

I have never tried this myself. I only mention it so that folks can look into it for themselves. The book specifically mentions "intense neuritis and neuralgia with burning, tingling and numbness", so I thought it was worth passing along.

I've had HSV2 for 35 years and have been on acyclovir daily for many years now for it. If anyone thinks they've started a shingles outbreak, see your doctor at once! Early treatment can make a big difference!