Neurontin vs Lyrica

[Cetkat]

I was just rx'd Neurontin from my gdoc for neuropathic pain. When she did, she mentioned that if Neurontin didn't do the trick she'd put me on Lyrica. My question is, what's the difference? I know it's gaba, whereas Lyrica is pre-gaba (whatever difference that makes)... but how do they compare results wise? Not just with pain but anxiety, depression, etc? Does one make more sense to take than the other considering my MI factors, or is it just all YMMV?

[jarn]

I was just rx'd Neurontin from my gdoc for neuropathic pain. When she did, she mentioned that if Neurontin didn't do the trick she'd put me on Lyrica. My question is, what's the difference? I know it's gaba, whereas Lyrica is pre-gaba (whatever difference that makes)... but how do they compare results wise? Not just with pain but anxiety, depression, etc? Does one make more sense to take than the other considering my MI factors, or is it just all YMMV?

I could be wrong, but I don't think there's tonnes of people on the forum taking Neurontin or Lyrica. I had some questions about them a few months ago and I don't think they're among the more 'popular' drugs

I haven't taken Neurontin, so I can't really answer your question, I'm more posting that someone is reading this! And I can post my experience w/Lyrica.

I was given Lyrica as an adjunct to Seroquel, I thought for mood stabilization. I had the choice between Neurontin and Lyrica and choose Lyrica b/c the most recent studies I'd seen on Neurontin was that it was not good for mood stabilization.

I would say I had minimal stabilization on it - I think, better than not being on anything, but not a roaring success. I was keeping to 500mg of Seroquel to minimize sedation but that wasn't enough to control my psychotic features so now I'm going onto Ziprasidone (again), except this time once I'm stable at my max dose I will go slowly off Seroquel.

Anyways, that's all blah blah blah except to say that when I saw my psychopharmacologist to make those arrangements, I got the impression he gave me the Lyrica mostly for my anxiety (I get bipolar-related DREAD sometimes). More blah blah blah, I will stay on the Lyrica with the Ziprasidone.

So - I would say Lyrica works moderately well for my anxiety, not very well as a mood stabilizer (but you are looking at it for pain/anxiety, correct?). Not sure how it would work for depression.

Well on Lyrica I also got compressed nerves in my foot - a neuroma - bad - and the pain was quite bad. I don't like to think what it would've been like/still would be like without the Lyrica.

Really though, I'd say YMMV. It seems to vary for people with most meds, so I would imagine it does with this one too.

My guess is that Lyrica is good as an adjunct med, or to be used as a pain med w/anti-depressive/anxiety properties, maybe not great on it's own, but that's just from my experience. You may find it works really well for you.