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Lyrica vs. Neurontin

by MonikaC2k7, Feb 27, 2008 01:19AM
Hello,

I am a 38 year old white female with Type 1 diabetes for 22 years.  I have severe peripheral neuropathy in my hands in feet.  I am treated with Neurontin, 800 mg. TID, Elavil, 100 mg. at bedtime for the pain which blunts the pain somewhat.  I have also had tarsal tunnel release surgery on both legs with little success.  In your experience prescribing medications for neuropathy pain management,  have you found Lyrica to have better results than the meds I am currently on?  I tried to make the switch once but the pain was too intense once I d/c the Neurontin and I quickly went back.

I'm desperate for help.  Sometimes when I think I will never get relief my mind spins out of control and I question whether I can tolerate it much longer and consider checking out...

Thanks for your help,

Monika
Member Comments (11)

by DON48, Feb 27, 2008 09:36PM
To: MONIKA
Hey, i am no diabetic but i have had 2 neck surgeries with alot of nerve pain, badly. the same drugs are used for this as well. my surgeon gave me a three months supply of lyrica and i liked it , it done very well  compared to the neurotin i take now. the ins company i have refuses to pay for lyrica cuz its newer med than neurotin. for my conditions they are prescribed what u call off lable meds . cuz their orginally are for diabetes. but works on nerve pain just the same .   i would take the lyrica if i had a choice , but everyones system is not always the same ya know. and about checkin out , hey forget that kinda thoughts now. you will get thru this and yeah somwhere theirs a light at the end of the tunnel. we just don't know how far it is , could b just around the corner ya know.  got it......

by DON48, Feb 27, 2008 09:36PM
To: MONIKA
Hey, i am no diabetic but i have had 2 neck surgeries with alot of nerve pain, badly. the same drugs are used for this as well. my surgeon gave me a three months supply of lyrica and i liked it , it done very well  compared to the neurotin i take now. the ins company i have refuses to pay for lyrica cuz its newer med than neurotin. for my conditions they are prescribed what u call off lable meds . cuz their orginally are for diabetes. but works on nerve pain just the same .   i would take the lyrica if i had a choice , but everyones system is not always the same ya know. and about checkin out , hey forget that kinda thoughts now. you will get thru this and yeah somwhere theirs a light at the end of the tunnel. we just don't know how far it is , could b just around the corner ya know.  got it......

by Barb925, Mar 02, 2008 07:45AM
To: MONIKAc2ky
I have been taking 75mg of Lyrica 3x a day. I feel alot better. Yes I get tired easily and my eyes are a bit fuzzy, but it really works. If I gain weight that would be fine with me I have lost 30 lbs in the last 2 months, so it would be nice to put some pounds.. You need to give it a try. It will help with your diabetis also. You really need to try it and see if it works. If it doesn't then go back to the neurontin and keep on going.

Good Luck and God Bless

Barb

by Ireland41, Mar 14, 2008 11:02AM
To: MONIKAc2ky
Lyrica is so new and dangerous (per my neurologist).  I just lost my job, car, driver's license etc because of Lyrica causing narcolepsy symptoms.

I wish I had never heard of it and had stuck with Neurontin.

Ireland41

by pattir727, Mar 14, 2008 08:40PM
To: Ireland41
I had to stop using both Lyrica and Neurontin,

I have narcolepsy and the both made it worse.


by ADSF, Mar 16, 2008 02:34PM
I have not taken Neurontin, but I have recently started taking Lyrica for nerve pain after neck surgery.   I feel the Lyrica was like a miracle for me.   My pain was cut at least in half and my quality of life has improved dramatically.   I'm taking almost no narcotics now, so I have my sharp mind back.   I have not yet had any side effects from the Lyrica, but of course everyone is different.  My dad also has severe nerve damage and his insurance company wanted him to try neurontin before they would approve Lyrica.    He said there was a huge difference between the two, and he has fewer side effects from the Lyrica than he did with the neurontin.   I would definitely recommend trying it.  

by Sunny Lee, Mar 25, 2008 05:06PM
To: Monica,
As you can now see, there are many people with many different reactions to all the options out there.  I enjoyed reading them for my own purpose, as I take Lyrica at 150mg. 4 times/day and the side affects are not good.  I admit that they do help the pain and if I miss a dose, I am immediately in great pain and it takes awhile to get it back under control.  But, I have experienced hair loss at an increasing amount, put on 35 lbs. that I did not need, and short term memory loss.  In the beginning I had little sign of side effects but over the 2 1/2 yrs. I have been on it, I have seen great increase.  I have also tried Cymbalta and that was horrible for me.

I do not have diabetes, nor any of the other causes for this condition.

Might want to consider a new neurologist and revisit all of this.

I know the pain and share it with you.  maybe one day, we will find a cure or medication that can help us.  Meanwhile, we must hang together and I agree with don 48 that we even allow ourselves to think of checking out, besides you are too young for such thoughts! :)
SunnyLee


by Kriss74, Mar 25, 2008 08:39PM
To: MonikaC2k7
Hey there...I know exactly how you feel. So much so. I am Type 1 diabetic and have the same neuropathy as you and had lots of surgeries as well....including having my gallbladder being removed. I also have a insuin pump whichhas saved me with my  blood surgars being so out of wack!  I have so much going on with me that is caused by diabetes that I do understand...and I do feel the same way as you do about checking out sometimes...cause wonder if it is worth it sometimes.. I take Lyrica and Neurotin...together they seem to help.

I just today have felt like checking out ....been down all day. Uncontrollable crying.

Just next week ...I have to surgery procedures I have to go through...one being having a Portacath put in and then the next day having my foot operated on. I just got over having a knee surgery and still recovering from that....and here I have to go and have these done next week.

I could use support sometimes...and sounds like you do too ...so if you need a friend...hollar at me.

Kriss

by extrmeski, Jun 22, 2008 07:07PM
I've had both neurotin and lyrica and really didn't have great results with either, but I had those in combination with high doses of Opiates so maybe I'm not a great reference.  If you take 5 lyrica and a xanex or two you get a drunk effect though.

by ashlan, Sep 28, 2008 12:03PM
To: everyone
My husband had surgery for herniated disc. They went thru the psoas muscle and apparantly had a hard time and he had sensitive nerve endings . The results he now uses a walker,because his quad walker muscle