gsbapentin vs lyrica

I have tried neurontin, lyrica, cymbalta, topamax and others.

I have fibro, arthritis, migraines and crps.

I have found that they all make the existing dizziness soooo much worse.

also fluid retention (swollen ankles and legs)

The cymbalta totally screwed up my autonomic nervous system - my blood pressure was off the charts (normal is low), heart palpatations, body temperature that would fluctuate constantly (like every 30 minutes) I thought I was dying.  then going off it was another horrible experience and took a year and I still don't think everything is as it was before taking it.

Topamax increased the dizziness soooo much and caused rapid eye movement (a very strange experience).

I now don't wish to take anything that screws with both neuro transmitters at the same time ( I don't think it's a good thing)

I no longer expect to be pain free .. I just accept that everyday it is there and hopefully the degree of pain will be less than the day before.  I take percocet, celebrex, flexeril, maxalt, zoloft, not always together.  It depends on the degree of pain and discomfit.  I try to get my mind involved in something and do not dwell on what I cannot do.  Nothing is easy.

I also no longer blindly follow what the doctors say.  I have found that is not always good for me.

So everyone has to be their own doctor first.  Listen to the little voice inside yourselves and don't ever think that you shouldn't question because someone is a doctor.  You are the only one that really knows what you are feeling and what the medication do for you or to you.

Good luck everyone.

Hoping for more good days than bad days for everyone.

I tried lyrica and it made me so sleepy I had to stop taking it.  I would take a 2 to 3 hour nap every day and sleep 12 hours at night.  It took my pain down but then again I wasn't awake to feel anything. 

that is the big problem .. I think the doctors feel helpless and are supposed to have the answers so they prescribe something that may work to some extent ... then we take it and the side effects still mean there is no quality of living ... but they tell us to keep taking them or give others to counteract the side effects and all we are doing is popping pills and still suffering with the original afflictions

I'm counting on there being something beyond this life ... I figure when I get rid of the body I'll be in great spiritual shape that I'll just be soaring on

Of course my cats need me to stick around so they make it worthwhile ..

I tried lyrica and it made me so sleepy I had to stop taking it.  I would take a 2 to 3 hour nap every day and sleep 12 hours at night.  It took my pain down but then again I wasn't awake to feel anything. 

Cymbalta totally ruined my autonomic nervous system also.  I had all of your symptoms in addition to massive total body spasms which resulted in a 10 day hospital stay and a residual of occipital neuralgia.  I have had 3 subsequent hospital stays due to the occipital neuralgia - the last one for 10 days again - all in the past year.  My doctor wouldn't listen to me when I kept reporting side effects from the Cymbalta.  I have tried Lyrica since then and had a severe spike in blood pressure with migraine headaches.  I get the most help from Neurontin (gabapentin).  I had to start very slowly on this medication.  I still have severe pain but it controls the body spasms.

That Cymbalta is dangerous.  There are a lot of people taking it and not realizing that their blood pressure, panic attacks, anxiety, mood swings, temp swings .. are caused by it.  Especially if they are near menopause.  MDs automatically say it has to do with those changes and just want to prescribe more meds for the addt'l symptoms.  It's scarey.

Then the withdrawal is just as brutal. 

I have some residual problems but luckily they are minor compared to the other problems.  I have read other blogs and people suffer with complications from cymbalta for years.  makes sense it screws with the bodies control area.

I'm sorry you have suffered so much because of it.  I'm glad that you have something that helps somewhat.  Sometimes that is all we can hope for.

Good luck

Keep smiling

My name is Terry, and am at the moment taking 150mg Lyrica and 10mg vallum, 50mg transoden, Ambien, LorTab 10. I take the Lyrica 3 times a day like I do the vallum and lortabs. It does nothing for the pain but makes me dizzy as hell. Before when they had me on 2mg xanax and 150mg Lyrica and the lortabs it did help some but I was so messed up I can't say for sure if it helped the pain. They put me on the Gab and vallum 3 times a day and it did nothing.  I am now going to get an MRI on neck and upper back due to loss of muscle mass. I am 43 and chest looks like I am 70. I have lost 30% mass in rear right soulder, and right arm has lost 2".   think I have a nerve pinched somewhere cause I cant even lift a glass with right arm.  I started taking heavy painkillers in 95 when my back went out and I had to have sugery. My legs give out all the time and I have a lot of numbness in my left hand and for arm, both top of my feet and right side of my face, neck, and behind the ear. I have know idea what is going on but I am willing to try anything to get out of the pain. I don't care what anyone says.  I will trade with them for a day and be thrilled that I was pan free for a day. I would feel sorry for whoever had my pain but they want be so fast to pass judgement.

 

Have a great day,

Cus I'm not.

Hi Terry

I know how frustrating all of this is.  One thing you can try is massage therapy ... but you have to find a massage therapist that specializes in medical massage.  Then you have to be very vocal about what you feel.  They have to start very gently .. and only the areas that you can tolerate ... If you have a pinched nerve ... a good massage therapist can release some of the pressure and increase blood and oxygen flow.

It is worth a shot ... but make sure the person listens to  you.

Hang in there .... I'm empathizing with you ...

Good luck

Cherie

Hello!  I was on Gabapentin & Neurotin for many-many years so long that this caused me to develop Stage III-Kidney disease, which isn't fun.  I was recently placed on Lyrica (Pregabalin-generic) and have been on that for 2 weeks now.  I was titrated from 25mg 3x a day to 100mg 3x a day and I am experiencing a little dizziness.  Which I truly believe will disappear once my system gets used to the idea that it isn't taking 3200mg of Gabapentin.  I have been told and have read that Lyrica is a better product for PAIN as I have spinal stenosis of my whole back - cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral with sciatica nerve damage, which makes my foot numb.  I  have to walk with a cane or walker at times for stability as I would truly fall.  I am a 67-year-old woman who has had this problem for many many years developed in 1975 when I went through Basic Training while in the US-Army.  I hope this helped you with your question.

I also have been on both Lyrica and 2800 mg Gabapentin. Gabapentin thru all the dopey feeling helped with the pain but the weight gain was incrediable. And after 3 months of being on it the pain started coming back. My gp suggested I stop the Gabapentin and Amitryptiline and go back to Lyrica for a couple of weeks and then he will get me to try Tomamax. I am so tired of taking medication. Oh I should tell you have MS. And along with that goes the depression. I am waiting for my Nero to call me back and give his suggestion. Why cant all my Dr's say(suggest) the same thing. I am so confused now who's directions I should follow. Is anyone out there taking Topamax???i

I took Topomax propyhlactically (daily) for my migraines. It made me so 'stupid' and I had lousy short term memory, which was tough in my job of teaching first and second graders. It seems to be a common side effect. I will never take it again. Of course, people have different experiences with the same drug. The Neurontin I am on now seems to help, but, like you, I would like to be off everything.  Best of luck,

Melissa

I gained 60 pounds on Lyrica in about 4 months.  I never had a weight problem in my life.  Couldn't lose a pound no matter what I did.  I saw a pain management specialist once, my GP and Neurologist wanted him to look over what they had decided to put me on and give his opinion.  Since I was still feeling the horrible fatigue months later they had me follow up with him again.  He gradually weaned me off the Lyrica onto Topamax, on the theory that someone whose frame is used to carrying 128lbs is going to feel worse carrying 188lbs regardless of the fibro.  The first few doses made me tired, then that went away, the first few weeks made my feet burn like crazy, that seems to be getting a little better.  Pain relief is not much different than the Lyrica, it is much cheaper, $10 copay instead of $50.  My fingers have been numb since I started on Lexapro, before Lyrica, Topamax, Cybalta, before anything I am on now.  It never went away.  It's a little worse on the Topamax, but not by much.  Fatigue is noticibly better now.  Pain may be a tiny bit worse in my shins.  I have been on the full dose of Topamax for about a week and have lost 8 lbs.  I just see the problems I have moving around, some are related to pain and stiffness and some I really think are related to the weight.  Hope I'm not getting my hopes up for nothing.  The odd thing is that I'm getting more migraines.  I can treat them effectively but how weird is that?  Topamax is supposed to prevent headaches.

Hi, I understand about having a dry mouth, the lyrica and tramadol make my mouth really dry and I drink an incredible amount of tea (should probably drink water)then have to hunt around for a clean loo! well it;s better that than eat sweets (candy) or will put even more weight on. Have put on 30 lbs in the 5 years of neuropathy.

Thank-you so much to everyone for your replies.  I did start on lyrica yesterday 75mg.  It made me feel so sleepy today, had a nap and woke up feeling awful.  My doctor wants me to continue taking the gabapentin as well. I felt horrible when I went on the gabapentin but I stayed with it and for awhile i called it my miracle drug it worked so well.  It's effectiveness wore off over time.  I will give this lyrica a shot....... 

Hi! I also started out taking a low doseage of neurontin 300mg 3x a day, now I take 600mg 3x a day. My Dr. just put me on celebrex 200mg 1 a day. I also take vicodin 5/500mg 3x aday. Since she put me celebrex I do feel bitter. My legs and feet don't hurt and tingle as bad. I have neurophy, arthristis and osteoporsis, so I have alot of pain, burning and tinglying in my hands, feet and legs. I have alot of trouble walking, sitting and lying. I don't sleep well a night, so I take afew naps during the day. As fatigue, well I don't do anything like I use to. I have a wonderful man that understands, so he does about everything around here. Take care and I hope your meds help you soon. Thanks for listening and their is alot of friends here on this website who understands and care.  donna

Hi-

My name is Mari Lynn and I have been on both of those drugs to help control my neuro pain from my back condition.  I had been on a fairly high if not the max dose of Lyrica-I think it was 650 mg. or so....unfortunately my current ins. will not pay for that.  I am now on gabapentin-again a very high dose, 3600-4000 mg. a day!!  I seem to have a high tolerance for drugs, but I was not feeling any relief from either drug until the dosage had been increased.  I don't have too much trouble staying awake if I have something to do during the day for a few hours but, I find that if I have nothing pressing to do, I do dose off and take cat naps-with my kitty!!  But, I also find myself having cotton mouth, esp. when I take pain meds-I am prescribed norco/vicodin 10/325 also.  As far as the sleepiness is concerned-I do tend to drink alot of coffee but yes-alot of water too!!

 

I was wondering, ever since I started on this regimen of either the Lyrica or actually more noticeably on the gabepentin-I have had a harder time peeing...,like sometimes I have to really concentrate to pee and empty my bladder fully....it has been quite noticeable on this high dose of gab. as mentioned, and I also asked my pain doc if that is a side affect of the drug-he said no but frankly-I am much more inclined to trust others that have been on the drug other than docs these days.....would appreciate any comments re: this issue, and it may be related to my back problem, ie. the lack of nerve innervation to the bladder.  I am scheduled to see a urologist next month re: this problem, just to rule out any other  problems.

Thanks,

Mari Lynn

Mari Lynn, Yes, I think the Lyrica did that to me a little bit too but most definitely the Vicodin will!  I was on narcotics for 2 years for all the pain, until I was taking 4mg dilaudid.  I watch my niece's beautiful baby during the day and was finding myself too drugged to properly interact with a 1 1/2 year old.  Too much TV, not enough playing!  So I quit the narcotics.  The pain is bad, the quitting was bad, but the baby hugs and kisses make it all worth while.  My kids are teenagers, if they need me they let me know!  And since 2 of them drive, most of the time they are pretty self reliant.

I ditched the lyrica.  it made me gain 5lbs in only a week.  It made me feel awful too.  My pain management doc increased my gabapentin to 3600 mg per day.  That and two nerve blocks and an epidural has made such a difference in my pain!

IT'S JO.YEAH I FELT AWFUL.THE THING WITH ME NOT ACTUALLY KNOWING ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS WERE DUE TO ME BEING GIVEN SAMPLES FROM THE DOC'S OFFICE.THAT LITTLE THING THAT COMES WITH IT CAN ONLY BE READ IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A TELESCOPE IN YOUR POCKET.SO I NEVER REALIZED HOW MUCH THE MENTAL CONFUSION I WAS IN.I JUST KNEW SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG.THE ONLY ESCAPE I HAVE IS SLEEP.AND I HAVE SEVERE SLEEP APNEA.SO THE ONLY THING THAT ALLOWS ME TO SLEEP IS TO COMBINE WHAT EVER SLEEPING RX WITH ABOUT 2 XANAX.I CAN SLEEP AND EVEN SOMETIMES DREAM.THE LONGEST CONTINUAL SLEEP I HAVE HAD IN OVER 20 YEARS IS 4 HOURS CONSECUTIVELY.YOU ONLY DREAM IN REM STAGE.AND THAT IS THE ONLY PLACE YOUR MIND CAN GO TO REPAIR MUSCLE AND NERVES.SO THAT IS WHY WE AL WAKE UP FEELING LIKE WE NEVER SLEPT AT ALL.WE ALL SEEM TO HAVE THAT.

 

I ASKED TO BE GIVEN A SLEEP CLINIC.SINCE AT THAT TIME I COULD ONLY GO TO SHANDS.SHANDS AT THAT TIME HAD NO SLEEP CLINIC.IT TOOK 5 YEARS AND WHEN I WENT THEY SAID WHOOAAA LADY.YOU NEED TO COME BACK.I THOUGHT I HAD SLEPT SO GOOD.I TOLD THEM HEY I ONLY WOKE UP TWICE.THEY SAID NO MAM,YOU WOKE UP 8 TIMES AND YOU NEVER REACHED REM STAGE.SO THEY HAD ME COME BACK.I WAS GIVEN A CPAP MACHINE WITH INSTRUCTIONS.I WENT THROUGH ABOUT 3 DIFFERENT MASK.I ENDED UP THROWING THAT BAD BOY ON THE GROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.IT IRRITATED MY CHRONIC SINUS PROBLEMS AND HISSED AT ME ALL NIGHT LONG.MY CERVIVAL AREA WAS SORE FROM THE HOSE GETTING TANGLED UP EVERY TIME I TURNED OVER IT SEEMED TO ME LIKE I WAS SLEEPING LESS.AND YES I AM AWARE THAT I COULD HAVE A STROKE ETC....IF I DON' WEAR IT.

 

THE THING THAT HAS HELPED ME THE BEST IS TIZANADENE.IT IS A MUSCLE RELAXER SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MUSCLES THAT RUN ALONG YOUR SPINE.IT IS GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.THE PAIN MEDS NEVER TAKE THAT PAIN AWAY EVER.

 

BUT THAT WILL TAKE THE PAIN IN MY RIGHT HIP AND MY SIDE AND THE PAIN THAT RUNS DOWN TO MY ILIUM ANDTO MY KNEE.THAT IS AN UNBEARABLE PAIN TO ME.SOMETIMES EVEN AIR HITTING MY SKIN HURTS.A SHOWER HURTS MY SKIN.I THINK I HAVE SOME NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED YET.BUT I HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY THAT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR FOR 2 YEARS ATLAST WEDNESDAY.AND THAT IS TO TAKE OUT AN INFECTED ORAL IMPLANT.SO I AM HOPING THAT I WILL START TO FEEL BETTER AFTER THAT.AND THEN I CAN WEAR MY DENTURES.

 

ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE.MY DAUGHTER WHO HAS CALLED ME A DRUG ADDICT FOR 10 YEARS IS STARTING TO UNDERSTAND.I SAID I WANT TO TRY TAI CHI.BUT I CAN NEVER FIND A CD TO DO IT BY.I HAD GONE TO THE LIBRARY AND CHECKED IT OUT OF THERE SEVERAL TIMES.BUT YOU CANNOT REMEMBER ALL THE MOVES WITHOUT IT.BUT MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT IT FOR ME FOR CHRISTMAS.I THINK THAT OUR EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL THOUGHTS AFFECT US MORE SO THAN THE PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS WE ARE GIVEN.I THINK IN THE LAST 20 YEARS I HAVE TRIED EVERY NEW DRUG THEY CAME OUT WITH.I AM WEARY OF TRYING NEW THINGS THAT ONLY SEEM TO MAKE THINGS WORSE.AND IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE OF TELLING A NEW DOCTOR THE DRUG THAT HELPS YOU THE MOST IS THE ONE THEY FOR SOME REASON THAT MAKES SENSE TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY NOT A GOOD CHOICE.I THINK THEY THINK WE ABUSE IT AND THAT IS THE REAL REASON WE ASK FOR IT.SO I HAVE LEARNED TO QUIT DOING THAT.

 

I HAVE HAD NERVE BLOCKS AND EPIDURALS AND THEY DID NOT HELP ME AT ALL.I HAVE HAD FACET INJECTIONS AND I HAVE HAD WHAT THEY CALL BURNING THE NERVES.BY MY PAIN MANG DOC.HE IS ABOUT THE ONLY PAIN MANG DOCTOR IN JAX.I HAVE FOUND WHO WILL PUT YOU TO SLEEP TO DO PROCEDURES.SO I GO FOR IT.I ONLY HAVE TO PAY $100 DOLLARS FOR THE WHOLE DAY.THAT STUPID ORAL SURGEON WHO GOT ME IN THIS FIX CHARGED ME AN EXTRA $300 DOLLARS FOR ANESTHESIA AND IN 29 ORAL SURGERIES I HAVE YET TO BE OUT OF IT WHILE THEY ARE STICKING NEEDLES THAT FEEL LIKE THEY ARE ALMOST GOING INTO MY EYES.

 

I ORDERED SOME FIT-FLOPS FROM VICTORIA'S SECRET THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK YOUR CALVES AND BUTTOX WHILE YOU WEAR THEM.WHEN IT TURNS WARMER I WILL GIVE THEM A TRY AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW.JO