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Neurontin versus Lyrica

Gimpa50
1 Recommendation

I am a C5 complete quadriplegic. I have been taking 2400 mg daily of Neurontin for nerve pain in my arms for 6 years since my accident. It helps some but does not eliminate the pain. I take Darvocet in the afternoon if it gets really bad. I went to see a pain doctor and he wants me to try Lyrica in addition to the Neurontin. I am beginning to get tingling in my legs that is also bothersome. I would like to hear from anyone that presently takes or has taken Lyrica for nerve pain.

Has anyone taken both at the same time? And if so, what were the dosages?

Has anyone had bad side effects from taking Lyrica? If so, what were they?

I have researched this drug on the Internet but would like some personal experiences. I appreciate all responses.

Explore topics in this discussion:

Detrol Surgery Zanaflex Prevacid Ambien Gabapentin Zetia Fatty liver Allergies Lexapro Ultram Neurontin Zyrtec Keppra Motrin Aleve Claritin Lipitor Nexium Methadone Elavil Morphine Osteopenia Norco Crestor Acupuncture Tizanidine Tricor Fentanyl Aspirin Coumadin Pain Spinal fusion Memory Lyrica Heartburn Paralysis

19 replies

chatch7254

I took both Lyrica and Gabapentin (generic for Neurotin). I took the max dose of Lyrica and the 2400 mg of Gabapentin. The side effects for me were very sleepy and the Lyrica actually made me swell pretty bad in the lower legs and feet. Swelling for me, makes pain. Once I weened my self off of the Lyrica alot of my severe swelling stopped and I actually started to feel better. I take a small dose of methadone for pain. I take a 10 mg in the morning and then 5 mg in the afternoon and night. I personally did not like Lyrica, but definatly try it because it may work wonders for you.

janders199

I've tried both and all they did was make me want to sleep all day . . . I hated it. The pain was horrendous!

Pain management people put me on neurontin, the Lyrica and were getting ready to try something new when I learned (from this website) that accupuncture was the best thing possible for pain. I have been going to my sports accupuncturist (chiropractor) since February of this year. The pain is 95% gone. Today I take 10mg of Elavil for pain at bedtime. And an ocassional Aleve. That's it!

I say give the accupuncturist a try and get off the drugs!

Good luck and let me know if it works for you!

Jim

If I were you, I would give that a try.

janders199

BTW, in February I went to the accupuncturist 3X/week, then in March 2X/week. Today I only go once a week, or even once every two weeks.

Good luck!
Jim

Gimpa50

Thank you for the reply. What is your injury level? How often do you go for acupuncture and how long does it last? Do you stay in your chair for the treatment? Where is your pain?

I would love to get off the pharmaceuticals. Both of these drugs severely affect your memory and thinking process. The pain was getting worse so I went to a pain management doctor and this was of course their first plan of action.

I have neighbors that go to an acupuncturist. I will talk to them.

Thanks again for the reply.

janders199

Hi again!

My injury level is T-12. My pain was always at the transition area between where I could feel and where I couldn't feel. My pain was 24/7 and 50 on a scale of 1 to 10.

I started out going to accupuncturist 3X/week, then 2X/week and now I go only when I need it . . . once every week or two. It's amazing that my pain is gone!

My accupuncturist uses laser rather than needles and I am in and out of his office in 5 mintes . . . and I never leave my wheel chair. He hits the points for pain management with a laser gun for only a second or two. One spot is the very top of my head, the other spots are just below my knew to the outside, and a few ear-ricluar spots, and a few spots on my hands. Painless.

Good luck!

Echairsitter

Can anyone share their complete meds. and other stuff they take everyday? I went off the edge and stopped all med/vitamine/and stuff,because I did not want to listen to any doctor or had enought of the side effect.

I also had accup.. with needles, but I had to travels approx. 90 miles to San Diego to get this free treatment once a week. I am c6-7 , pain and spasm decrease after treatment without pain med for 2 to 3 days after, but pain and other unhappy feeling and though return after 4 to 5 days. I had needles in the head, arms, hands, legs, feet, and small black ball (med) on ears lops.
I know of 2 differents type of Accup... chinese/japanese ? before I had big longs needle, and then I change Accup.. location they use small and short Accup... You should not feel the needle (pain from needle), if you do the needle is in the wrong place. Bleeding a lot, needle in the wrong place, a little drop is ok. All done in electric chairs after 30 minutes, longer better.

Good luck.

janders199

Sure . . . here's my daily regimen:

Time/ Med/ Treating
Breakfast
Proprananol 40mg/HCM Detrol 4mg/Bladder
Pacerone 200mg/ Heart-Rhythm
Prevacid 30mg/ Anti-Acid
Benefiber in OJ/ Digestion
Cayenne Pepper/ Heart/BP

Lunch
Smoothy with
Omega 3 & Yogurt/ Heart
Vitamin B-Complex/ Paralysis
Acai/ Heart/BP

Bedtime
Proprananol 40mg /HBP, HCM
Detrol 4mg/ Bladder
Coumadin 1mg/ Blood Thickness
Elavil 10mg/ Pain
Zetia, 10mg/ Cholesterol
Crestor, 10mg/ Cholesterol

1x /week/ Acupuncture - Laser/ Pain

When I get acupuncture is not with needles, it is with a laser gun. Takes 5 minutes max.

Hope this helps!

Echairsitter

Thanks for the lists. I believe that I need to get some more vit. and med. that can help with recovery and healthier body.

carole338

Jim, Thanks for your info.
My regimen is:

Morning: 400 Gabapentin
Prevacid
Toporol
Lipitor
Baby aspirin

Noon: Yogurt
Omega 3
Multivitamin with Minerals
1800 Calcium

Evening: 20 Lexapro
400 Gabapentin
Ambien

5 mg Onycotin during the day if needed (usually 3 times a week)

I am considering acupuncture for pain so I could get off the pills.

Carole

MINDY3

I am in the San Diego, CA. Does anyone know of a good acupuncturist there?

horsestail

I have never taken Lyrica, but I have heard many people talk about the swelling issue and weight gain. I have taken Gabapentin, but it did nothing for my nerve pain. I take Cymbalta for the nerve pain and recently started taking Keppra, which is like Lyrica, but without the side affects. The Keppra ER 500 samples that I got did nothing, but 500 of the regular Keppra was too much - made me so sleepy. The 250 is enough for me.
I have L4 level injury, but despite having some feelings in my legs I can have extremely bad times with my legs/feet especially if I have done too much. The bad thing is I cannot tell when I have over done it until that night.
I take:
Morning
Ultram ER 300mg (pain)
Cymbalta 60mg (nerve pain)
Claritin (allergies)
multivitamin
Calcium Citrate 630mg with Vitamin D 400 IU (osteopenia) I am supposed to take a prescription med, but the potiental for jaw deterioation and already having TMJ made me stop. I didn't know with a SCI we are more like to get osteoporsis.
Flaxseed Oil 1000mg with Omega- 450 mg (Cholesteral)
Lavaza (Cholesteral)

Evening
Cymbalta 60 mg

Bedtime
Omperazole 20 mg (acid reflux/GERDs)
Lovaza
Calcium Citrate 630mg with Vitamin D 400 IU
Tizanidine (Zanaflex) 4 mg
Leetiracetam (Keppra) 250 mg (supposed to take twice a day, but only take as needed as hate taking so much medication)

Pain as needed
Lidoderm 5% patch
TENS unit

I would love to come off the medications and hate that I have to take so much. I had hot flashes and had to take Estrodol they were so bad and it raised my triglicerides, so this spring I was put on Tricor and it caused me so much problems and gave me a fatty liver, so I stopped both with hope to recover.

I cannot stand needles, so never gave accupuncture a thought, but the laser sounds like something worth trying. How do you go about finding someone who uses the laser?
thanks

carole338

Is there any benefit to the time of day vitamins and RX are taken?

salukisultan

Hello I was also taking 2400mg of neurotin for nerve pain in my legs. I have a t8 SCI. It made me very drowsy and did not help the nerve pain. I switched over to lyrica. I take the maximum dose of 100mg 3x a day. this works much better, although I still have nerve pain 24/7. It's always there. I am not as drowsy and feel it is a better medication for me. I 've never combined the two drugs.
I hope this post will help.
sincerely,
erin

horsestail

Carol, I read that taking meds like Omperazole (generic name and it is for heartburn, acid reflux/GERDs) is better to take it at bedtime, so I tried it. I found that it really does make a difference and I don't have to take as much. I have not had heartburn since doing it and that is even after reducing from 40 to 20 mg.
I was also told that our body can only absorb about 500 mg of vitamin D at a time, so to take it twice a day. I was taking 1000 mg pill, but now take Calcium Citrate with the vitamin D included. Another interesting bit I learned is that as I have heartburn & take the medication that I needed the Calcium with the Citrate.
I would look up your medications and see what it says about taking your medication as I had one that was not labeled to take a bedtime, but the information I read said it was best to take it at bedtime. Now I look up any new medication. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist too.
I hope that helps.

carole338

Thanks a lot for the info. I will change my routine.

wlavner

I too am C5 and suffer from nerve pain in my feet and left arm. I tried Lyrica and it did nothing but make me dopey. I've had similar reactions with Morphine and Methadone. I've had some success with Norotryptilin (sp?) I'm now trying Neurontin - I'm at 1,200 mg. now with no relief. I'm waiting for my doctor to advise me as to whether I should continue.

psquare

Hello,

I am sorry to hear about your pain. The pain is very difficult to handle. I am on Lyrica, 100 mg, three times a day. The Lyrica has taken away the feeling that I have a twisting knife in my neck and has left me with a constant duller pain. I am very happy with Lyrica. Neurontin made me very tired.

Good luck.

salukisultan

hello, I am a t8 incomplete. I take lyrica for nerve pain. I did take neurotin in the beginning. I took 2400mgs. It did not help my nerve pain much besides that I was drowsy too. Iam now taking 100mg. of lyrica 3x/day. this is the maximum dosage. It works better than neurotin for me. I don't notice any side effects. However, it doesn't take my pain completely away. I have nerve pain in my legs all the time. it never ceases. constant burning sensation. i've become accustomed to pain. sometimes i think my life is a distraction from the pain i endure. indeed , there are horrendous moments that i cannot bear. this pain leads me to the end of myself. This is when God's power takes over. i come to the end and handover the reins of my life. He knows my pain because His Spirit lives inside me.
this day will come to an end - as i close my eyes and drift off to sleep i look forward to a night's rest. thank you Jesus, for when i'm sleeping i feel no pain.
i hope this helps for you. take care.
eg

skeetelmore65

Hello to all,
I believe my post will astound you to what I am being prescribed for what I have, but of course I guess I do have a lot of things going on. Still, I feel I am taking too much med. I have C5-C6 ACD & F spinal fusion with failed fusion as I have been told by 3 different docs,and they won't take them out or I can't take them out. They don't tell you the things you really need to know ...hey? Anyway, this is my regimen:
Every 6 hrs. I take Lyrica(150mg.-in which might run over if I get any sleep(usually 2-4 hrs. a day)
Fentanyl Patch (50mcg,but moving me up to 75mcg): For constant med. delivery for nerve damage/chronic pain/T3-T4 Compressed fracture(that the doc didn't do anything @ after I had surgery on C5-C6...sounds fishy to me...you think he caused the fracture? He sure won't acknowlegde that there is a problem or anything or any further testing to find the problem....PAIN!!!!
Norco 10/325 : Usually 3-4 a day
Zanax 1mg.: For spasms/tremors(I usually half it and take other half if needed)
Other meds that I take for other things,in which I am worried that mixing all these is what my prob is.
Nexium 40mg. 1xday
Zyrtec 10mg. 1xday
Motrin if have a headache(rarely take,but thought it'd be good for inflamation)

I am just at my wits end with all this med and having to keep up w/it. I just wish they would put that Med-tronic device that delivers meds and also sends signal directly to spine without meds going through blood stream
Anyone got a resolution..please let me know..
I have never tried Neurontin,but probably should since i am so swelled, gained from 105 to 174, but everytime I try I can't do it because my pain from nerve damage is so bad
I have paralysis all over. My top lip stays that way and the top part of my right foot is like a piece of wood. If it itches I can't even feel like I am scratching it...man
Now, having so many problems with leg/knee pain...Like Kathy Bates has come over to hit my knees for me..I know I wish I knew what is so wrong that could possibly be fixed..Is there any hope in that?
I wish the best to you all and keep a prayer set aside for me ...please
Take care and always..>GOD BLESS
KAREN

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