Neurontin vs Pregabalin

[luke00]

Hi.

I have been taking 1200mg of Neurontin 3x daily for nearly 2 years and with little effect (I am taking a whole host of other pain killers to help it out). I realise that 1000mg x3 daily of Neurontin is the maximum recommended dosage.

Pregabalin has just be introduced here in Australia and my pain team have been able to prescribe it for me privately. Instead of paying the normal $4 prescription fee, I pay either AU$85 for 56x75mg capsules or AU$120 for 56x150mg capsules. The doctors are fighting for it to be added to the PBS scheme

In the meantime, not exactly cheap but if it works I will hand over the money with a smile on my face!

As the drug is so new here the Pain Team were able to offer very little advice on common side effects other than the general ones associated with most medication... nausea, dizziness etc.

Also, there is little information on how successful a change from Neurontin to Pregabalin will be.

Finally, the question of dosage is still not exactly known. The pain team have said that any transfer should be on the conservative side and can be increased if needed. they have suggested initially dropping one dose of 1200mg and replacing it with 150mg of Pregabalin. If this works, drop another dose. It is anticipated that the Pregabalin is to be taken 2x daily, instead of 3.
Pregabalin is supposedly 6-7 times stronger than Neurontin, which means that 150mg falls short of my current Neurontin dose. In saying that, Pregabalin is supposed to be more effective and therefore, in theory I shouldn't need an equivalent dose.

If anyone can offer ANY advice I would REALLY appreciate it, especially anyone who has made the change from Neurontin to Pregabalin.

Thanks
Luke

[razzle51]

why are yu using the generic name , when its not even offered. It is very expensive in the US .

[kickinglamb]

dear luke,
i honestly don't see what difference it makes whether you use the brand or generic name. after all, if someone wanted more info on the drug they would be asking they're dr or pharmacist about it abyway. surely SOMEONE would know what we were taolking about, if not there's always the trusty internet, www.webmd.com (http://www.webmd.com) has a great link to meds and doctors.
good luck finding someone on that particular med.

sincerely,
lori

[metronycguy]

actually people here may know more about these drugs than the pharmacist or local non sci md's.
there has been a lot of talk here and in other forums about the difference between generic gabapentin vrs name brand neurontin.
a lot of these generics do not work as well as the name brand.
the lab in nj that produces most of the generics had some problems with their quality control last year..
another problem is counterfeit drugs, if your pharmacy buys their drugs from these wholesalers , who know what you are getting.

[mike]

Metronycguy.
Your comment was interesting re: the effectiveness of the generic vs brand name Neurontin(Gabapentin). It might be worth while querying the pharmacy as to where they get their generics from. I have not used the attached pharmacy as I had been using a different pharmacy in Canada. The important thing is that both pharmacies claim they get their drugs from Pfizer. I called the attached and they assured me that Pfizer supplied their Neurontin and Gabapentin. Obviously I cannot speak to their truthfulness but it is pretty much agreed that the Canadians police their drugs as well as we do. http://www.canpharm.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.display/pn/Neurontin.Gabapentin/product_id/1678.htm?ovcpn=&ovmkt=K4TIJTUNFF9G0U8PS5AES12UL4.

Mike

[David Berg]

I'll pass along my observations from here, and other groups as well, that many people do find the same relief from generic Neurontin as from the name brand. From all the comments, I have to believe this problem extends beyond the issues of conterfeits and QC. The formulas and processes used to make the different versions of the drug are not identical and these factors make a difference in the effectiveness of the medications for some folks. Again and again I've heard people say that switching to gabapentin after the patent expired on Neurontin was a complete failure, like they were suddenly just taking a placebo.

[mike]

David, I suspect that you are correct that the formulas and processes used for manufacturing the generic vs the brand name are not identical from one manufacturer to another. It would however be interesting if Pfizer produces their Neurontin differently from their Gabapentin. It least that would be interesting if in fact the Canadians are indeed purchasing their Gabapentin from Pfizer. In addition Pfizer is spending big bucks to restrain others from producing Gabapentin without a license to do so from them. http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/are/investors_releases/2004pr/mn_2004_1008.jsp.

I thought that our FDA had some responsibility to ensure that a generic formula was in fact the same as the brand name when the manufacturer, Pfizer in this case, uses the generic name to describe it's formulation.

It is pretty sad when you cannot believe that generics are really not the same as the brand name when people are using these names to look up side effects to protect themselves.

[luke00]

Woooaaahhhh!!! Hang on a minute. We seem to have got side tracked from my initial question.

Basically I have been taking Neurontin (Gabapentin to some of you) and I am about to change to Pregabalin (Lyrica to some of you).

My point was not to start a discussion on the difference in brand names and generic names, although this might make an interesting thread of its own if anyone would like to start it.

It is very new here in Australia and not fully licensed, hence being very expensive. This might also be the case in America, I am not sure.

As this website is world wide and not just for U.S. users, I am hoping that someone somewhere might have some information that they can offer on changing over and dosage etc (as per my original post ).

Thanks!

[metronycguy]

THE docs should be able to get the comparison tables., if they cant they are pretty :(.. if i gather what you are saying you take 3600 a day of neurontin.
i take 150 a day of lyrica , i started on 75 a day,, however i started from scratch no neurontin change over.
i didnt get the sleepiness i experienced when i was on the neurontin

[DEAN57]

I Just Got Off Lyrica And Had Worst Sides Ever Blury Vision Headaches Lots Of Confusion Coudent Wait To Get Off The Stuff Sides Took 2 Weeks To Clear My System This Drug Seemed To Bring On Anxiety On The + Side All The Burning In My Feet Was Gone

[kickinglamb]

Woooaaahhhh!!! Hang on a minute. We seem to have got side tracked from my initial question.

Basically I have been taking Neurontin (Gabapentin to some of you) and I am about to change to Pregabalin (Lyrica to some of you).

As this website is world wide and not just for U.S. users, I am hoping that someone somewhere might have some information that they can offer on changing over and dosage etc (as per my original post ).

Thanks!
i just added lyrica to my neurotin. i was on 3800mgs of neurontin a day and since my insurance didn't cover thee lyrica my neurologist gave me samples to use until he can try and get it approved. my SCI dr. joined in and they're sure they can get it through.

ANYWAY, back to the topic. rightnow i'm substituting one 75mg lyrica for one 300 mg neurontin twice a day. i already have alittle less burning at night and am waking less from it. i'm supposed to replace 2 doses of lyrica for two doses of neurontin until i'm taking 4 doses of 75mgs lyica and 4 doses of 600mgs of neurontin in one month. which works out to one replacement a week.
i'll be on my third dose[and one less 300mg neurontin] of 75mg lyrica next week, i'll let you know what happens.i don't know what the final dosage will be, but somehow i'm supposed to be off the neurontin and totally on the lyica. we/ll find out.

so far so good:)
lori c-6 complete

[metronycguy]

good luck ! wow i would need that written out for me , i am sure i would screw it up

[Chrisbl]

Hi,

I am wanting to follow up with Luke. I am about to change from Gabapentin (1800 per day) to Pregabalin (75 mg to start). Did you experience much withdrawal or did the initial side effects of Pregabalin cover that over?

Appreciate hearing from anyone!!

Chris

[alan]

Lyrica caused me gum and teeth pain the first time I tried it. I may try it again at some point, for lack of anything else.

[hannah]

I have taken Neurontin for 8 years for problems related to a brain injury. It changed my life from being housebound and severely disabled for 12 years to getting out of the house, travelling a bit, doing my own shopping, etc. I am a true Neurontin success story. My boyfriend, a C-4/5 partial quad, also takes it for pain.

I was switched to the generic a few months ago, one made by Teva. My health started declining, gradually at first, then rapidly to the point where I could not stand up and wound up in the hospital with so many symptoms they couldn't figure out what was wrong. It then occurred to me that I started going downhill about the time I was switched to the generic gabapentin. I found some old Neurontin, went back on it and in two weeks I am almost back to normal.

Now I am wondering about my boyfriend who hasn't done as well when he was switched to the generic.

Why does the FDA lie to the public about this? I have since come across a number of people who have found that the generics do not work as well. My insurance company is using the "generics are the same" excuse to justify not paying for Neurontin for me. My doctor wrote the script but is unwilling to go to bat for me with insurance, sending me off to a neurologist for more "documentation".

What more do they need? Generic = multiple doctor and hospital visits, Neurontin = better health and few visits to the dr. Which is more cost effective? (Duh!)

[jacob]

Hi.

I have been taking 1200mg of Neurontin 3x daily for nearly 2 years and with little effect (I am taking a whole host of other pain killers to help it out). I realise that 1000mg x3 daily of Neurontin is the maximum recommended dosage.

Pregabalin has just be introduced here in Australia and my pain team have been able to prescribe it for me privately. Instead of paying the normal $4 prescription fee, I pay either AU$85 for 56x75mg capsules or AU$120 for 56x150mg capsules. The doctors are fighting for it to be added to the PBS scheme

In the meantime, not exactly cheap but if it works I will hand over the money with a smile on my face!

As the drug is so new here the Pain Team were able to offer very little advice on common side effects other than the general ones associated with most medication... nausea, dizziness etc.

Also, there is little information on how successful a change from Neurontin to Pregabalin will be.

Finally, the question of dosage is still not exactly known. The pain team have said that any transfer should be on the conservative side and can be increased if needed. they have suggested initially dropping one dose of 1200mg and replacing it with 150mg of Pregabalin. If this works, drop another dose. It is anticipated that the Pregabalin is to be taken 2x daily, instead of 3.
Pregabalin is supposedly 6-7 times stronger than Neurontin, which means that 150mg falls short of my current Neurontin dose. In saying that, Pregabalin is supposed to be more effective and therefore, in theory I shouldn't need an equivalent dose.

If anyone can offer ANY advice I would REALLY appreciate it, especially anyone who has made the change from Neurontin to Pregabalin.

Thanks
Luke You should try to check an online pharmacy site for drug interactions (http://www.pharmacy-online.ca/drugs/fosamax.jsp).

[Communic8Harmony]

[quote=luke00]Woooaaahhhh!!! Hang on a minute. We seem to have got side tracked from my initial question.

Basically I have been taking Neurontin (Gabapentin to some of you) and I am about to change to Pregabalin (Lyrica to some of you).

My point was not to start a discussion on the difference in brand names and generic names, although this might make an interesting thread of its own if anyone would like to start it.[End Quote]

Luke- Hi. I think I found the answers you were looking for at: www.globalrph.com/pregabalin.htm (http://www.globalrph.com/pregabalin.htm)
It looks like Lyrica is absorbed faster as well as in lower doses than the gabapentin (Neurontin). Two of my doctors (one work comp related) and one, my primary care physician have mentioned Lyrica to me now. I am thinking about it, but yes, I better check my insurance coverage unless Work Comp pays for it. I'm in the U.S. (CA).

I suffer from undiagnosed fibromyalgia symptoms. The Work comp case is carpal tunnel and DeQuervain's tendonitis (thumb). Now I feel scapula, shoulder and neck pain. I have a bulging disk in my neck 2mm. I will get an epidural injection in 2 weeks, I believe to my neck. Anyone have experience with this?

[catslave]

I was on Neurontin for a short while but it made me so groggy I couldn't wake up until mid-afternoon. I was then switched to Lyrica (about a year and a half ago). Although I'm on a relatively low dose (75mg each night), I started having serious short-term memory problems. After more misplaced items than I could possibly count, missed appointments, forgotten phone messages, etc., I decided to get off the stuff. Unfortunately, I didn't consult my doctor and tried just quitting "cold turkey". Since then, I've had the most bizarre symptoms imaginable -- nausea, diarrhea, headaches, creepy-crawly sensations in my limbs, and worst of all, feeling like I want to jump out of my skin. Needless to say, I'm going back to my doc to help me get off the stuff permanently. I was taking these meds for sciatic nerve pain due to degenerative disk disease in my lower back. Frankly, I've done about as well in managing the pain with heat packs, Lidoderm patches, and a TENS unit. My advice is to be very wary of these meds -- they're bad news! And to the guy who is getting the epidural injections for his bulging disk, be aware that they only work for a few people. They didn't work for me and I don't know anybody else they worked for.

[David Berg]

Sorry to hear about your experience, Catslave. They definitely aren't for everyone, but there's a lot of people helped by each of them.

[Lupus Sucks]

Lyrica has saved my life. Currently I am on 225mgs and will be going up to a therapeutic somewhere in between 400-600mgs. I cannot begin to tell you how much better I feel. I have Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Osteoarthritis and Facet Joint arthritis along with neuroforaminal narrowing...in L4-L5 and L5-S1.

I was on neurontin and it did nothing for me so I tapered off that and when first put on Lyrica I noticed the difference. I also take pain medication but it was the Lyrica that has helped me most. I need to write the makers and tell them they have come out with a wonder drug. I hope your question has been answered. From what my doc tells me the therapeutic dose is anywhere between 400-600mgs.

[foxyladi14]

my doc gave me lyrica for arthritis pain in spine and nerve going to my pinky
we in horribe pain
i took a pill as soon as i got home and within an hour the pain was gone
take 75 twice daily
no side effects
i take no other meds

[adi chicago]

Lyrica caused me gum and teeth pain the first time I tried it. I may try it again at some point, for lack of anything else.
first time when i used lyrica i could not feel my tongue or to enjoy the taste of food [75 mg only]...no pain relief......damn meds and their side effects.
i will never use it again.