Cymbalta and Lyrica or Neurontin

[Kath]

Helen,

My understanding is that Lyrica (pregabalin) is a more refined version of gabapentin, it is newer and does cost more but should have fewer side effects.

I too have got a prepayment prescription card and it does save alot of money.

Kath

[Griff522]

Faith, how do function on 2400mgs of Neurontin? I was on 1500 mgs last summer and had a hard time managing my day to day life. I started on Cymbalta first though -- last spring. I only take 30 mgs though and it really helps my depression more than the pain. I was told by both my psychiatrist and endocrinologist that I could increase the dose if I wanted -- to see if it would help with the nerve pain. I haven't yet, but if my pain continues at the level it has been lately, I may give it a try.

I had few side effects when I first started the Cymbalta i.e. nausea and major muscle twitching but they subsided after a week or so.

[shljk]

I was starting to think about getting on Cymbalta in conjunction with the Lyrica that I take (75 mg BID), but now I'm just a bit scared. The pain doctor did not prescribe this for me; the psychiatrist did. After a ten minute first consult. Yeah. Great medical world we have here.

I now have the Rx sitting in my wallet, not knowing what to do w/ it.

Any suggestions?

Already on:

75 mg Lyrica BID
5 mg Valium BID
10 mg Elavil
20 mg Prozac

Thanks,

A's M

Cymbalta and Lyrica are routinely prescribed together for chronic nerve pain; they apparently work better together rather than separately. From what I understand, it's a standard "drug cocktail". But it's not for everyone, and it's recommended to start at a low dose and build up slowly.

[Faith]

Faith, how do function on 2400mgs of Neurontin? I was on 1500 mgs last summer and had a hard time managing my day to day life. I started on Cymbalta first though -- last spring. I only take 30 mgs though and it really helps my depression more than the pain. I was told by both my psychiatrist and endocrinologist that I could increase the dose if I wanted -- to see if it would help with the nerve pain. I haven't yet, but if my pain continues at the level it has been lately, I may give it a try.

I had few side effects when I first started the Cymbalta i.e. nausea and major muscle twitching but they subsided after a week or so.

I don't know how I take 2400mg of Neurontin Griff. I'm a small woman too. I didn't get any relief hardly of my burning pain till I got up to 1800mg. I did it very slowly and for some reason I never had very many side effects with Neurontin. Just a little dizziness with each dosage increase that subsided in a couple days. I did try to go up to 3200mg, but I couldn't tolerate it, nor did I get any more relief in my pain. From what I understand Lyrica has a more linear (like you increase the dose it increases the effect) effect whereas Neurontin sort of plateus after a while (like once you get up to a certain dosage that's it. Increasing it will neither increase your side effects nor the effectiveness of the drug). That's what a doctor told me at least. I have found it true with the Neurontin. I think it helps some with my perineal burning, but I do think my memory has suffered though. I think maybe if I tried Cymbalta first or on less Neurontin I would be able to tolerate it better, but depression isn't a huge issue for me so I'd rather stay on Neurontin where at least I get some pain relief. Everybody tolerates different medicines. That's for sure!

[Faith]

.My understanding is that Lyrica (pregabalin) is a more refined version of gabapentin, it is newer and does cost more but should have fewer side effects.

I have been told that Lyrica is the metabolite of Neurontin so basically what our body breaks neurontin down into is what Lyrica is already (which is why you can take less mg wise to be equivilent to Neurontin). Doctors have told me there is more side effects which is why they don't want to switch me to Lyrica because I tolerate Neurontin ok, but there have been people on this forum say they get more relief from Lyrica than Neurontin. Medicines are trial and error in this game I think.