I took Lyrica for about 3 weeks and ditched it due to weight gain and expense.

I've been on Neurontin ever since. The price is very reasonable with my insurance and it works very well.

I have nerve ending pain for several years.

I took neurontin for that pain. It helped alot for that but not for my fibro pain.

After i had been on it for several months it started irritating my IBS so my doc has now taken me off of it.

Forgot to add --

I've had no side effects from Neurontin.

Also, check with your pharmacist and ask for drug interactions. For me, it mixes well with the other things I take.

thanks both of you! I really appreciate it!

i have took both but not at same time quit neurontin before starting lyicra. both helped no side effects.

I asked my rheumy about Lyrica and Neurontin. He said they basicially do the same thing, but the Lyrica is more specific to fibro...not sure if that helps, but that's what he said. He wants to put me on Lyrica as soon as I am stabilized on my other meds. Had to stop them for awhile due to illness. I've a lot of people talk about weight gain because it makes your body think you're hungry. I'm hoping that knowing this at the start will help me control it so that it doesn't become a problem. Hope it all works out for you...hugs jilly

there are very few differecnes in the 2 drugs, they are slight but they are there. I would not be put on the both of them in any case they are too much alike. If the Neurotin works then you shouldn't need anything else, it works on me great and I am pain free now but not al meds work the same on us, so give it a week or 2 and if you don't feel anything then try the Lyrcia then not together. You should look them up. If you come back to this site and look for the words that are highlited in green you can click on them and read all of the sides for yourself......Love......Helen

My Dr. started me on Lyrica in Feb when I wa dx'd with Fibro. I also take Hydorcodone. The key with Lyrica is to start on a low dose and work your way up. I started on 50mg at bedtime for 1 week. Then 100mg at bedtime for the next 2 weeks. I added 50 mg in the afternoon and will probably start another 50 in the morning next week. That puts me at a total of 200mg daily. By starting slowly and working up, I'm trying to find the right level of pain relief with the least side effects. When I first started I had blurry vision, dizziness and it made me tired. Good to take before bed. All those symptoms are gone now. If I take more than 50 mg during the day, I get a little high. I've had no swelling or weight gain, but I watch what I eat. Lyrica does make me hungry, but I find that some yogurt, fruit or a few almonds will satisfy it.

I have taken both, but at different times.

I did notice that Lyrica made me think I was hungry...I was wanting to raid the fridge at night.

However, these two didn't help my pain and I had side effects to both...ie: dizziness, more fatigue, if that is possible and the weight gain.

all this information is very helpful. thank you so much!

I know that these are very similar so don't know that taking both together would be a good idea. I am on neurontin and it has helped me a lot, I get minimal side effects and it has really helped my morning stiffness. I can actually just get out of bed when I want to these days. I also have found from these discussions that people tend to be able to tolerate one better than the other, so if you can take Lyrica with little or no side effects then stick with it, as it might be likely that you wont react as well with the Neurontin, and vice versa. I haven't taken Lyrica because of the cost, but have been lucky with the cheaper Neurontin.

BlueSun...I've taken Lyrica for almost 6 months now...minimal side effects (go away after a while)...I don't notice the food cravings & have not gained weight. Maybe one of my other meds kills my appetite...who know?? I think that the Lyrica helps me with my spasticity...more that anything. I still get the nerve pain (electrical-like shocks that zap down your legs/arms...like being touched by a tazer that sometimes does NOT want to let go) Hope this helps! ;)

I'm currently takeing lyrica . I'm not sure if it helps the pain but the depression I've had as a result of haveing fibromyalgia and a very weak heart seems to have lifted and has not come back ??
I have noticed a decrease in the need of the morphine I take for the constant 24/7 severe pain I'm always in . I also seem to have not been eating as much which for me is a good thing as I'm overweight .

I started taking Lyrica on 4/1/08. I was increasing the dose slowly. I had side effects. Swollen and RED Face and Hands and swollen calfs (water retention in calfs). The reaction happened exactly 2 weeks after I started Lyrica.
My doctor switched me to Neurotin. That was 4 days ago.

I gained 10 lbs. on Lyrica in 2 weeks!!! NOT HAPPY

I'm hoping the Neurotin doesn't make me feel so hungry. If it does, I'm gonna resist the feeling!!

Hope this helps...Deb


My doctor

Ok, well I'm currently on Effexor, only 150mg these days, but it increases my BP and I'm on 2 meds for the high BP. When I started Lyrica a few weeks agao, for the first few days, I felt great, more energy, etc. However, after a week of so I felt worse. And, worst of all my BP was up even more!!!
I stuck with it for a few weeks, but my side effects kept increasing, so I'm now off it. I've also tried Neurontin, but only felt sick and had no benefits. I would suggest one or the other to try, and hopefully one will work for you.