Neuropathy: Anyone have any experience with gabapentin?

I'm looking for people who may have tried both Gabapentin and Lyrica? After being on gaba for a year or so, up and down on dosage, with questionable effect on burning pain symptoms, physiatrist started me on Lyrica 10 days ago. She said they are both in the same class of drug, but patients have different responses. I think Lyrica may be making me feel worse, and have been reading that a lot of people just hate it. What experiences can any of you share? Thanks.

I take 100 mg twice a day. It helps a little. Added duloxitine 25 mg once a day about 36 months ago and together they help (a bit). But I’ve added magnesium a few days ago and this morning I woke up to numbness only, without pain. Usually it’s both.

Is that the Bengay with 4%. Lidocaine?

Lyrica didn’t help me with the pain and as we upped the dosage it affected me psychologically. I got really irritable. It just made me mean! When I got off of it it was like a dark cloud moved out of my head.

Yes, I use it with very good results. Johnmacc

Thanks for sharing this! Did you have to withdraw slowly from the Lyrica? I don't want to stay on too long for I do have concerns for withdrawal from all these drugs they want to try out.

Yes…but pretty quickly…. it wasn’t too bad at all. I’ve withdrew from Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Methadone and Fentanyl….It wasn’t anything compared to them.

I have axonal peripheral neuropathy, numbness only without pain and when I went to Mayo in MN, I was told with my axonal PN, Gabapentin will not help, will not reduce numbness. Again, this applied to my situation following many tests. This med actually made me irritable not my normal. I told the doc that following Gaba, my primary doc tried me on Lyrica. Mayo said that in my case, Lyrica will not help. I stopped taking it as well. Perhaps these meds will help some cases of PN. In my opinion, the effects of the med have to be weighed against the benefits and for many, these meds can help those of us with PN which is great! Ed

I sound like a broken record, but if Lyrica and gaba are not working, ask your neurologist if you can try Tegretol. I wrote a lengthy message about it here. The results have been pretty much miraculous. I see UAB doctors. They approved my experiment. It’s a legitimate but rarely used option.

I forgot to add Amitriptyline to my list of prescription medicines. My neurologist prescribed it for pain relief and as a sleep aid. It helped. Several years later, my PCP tested my whole prescription drug list with a Medicare approved genetic test to assess my ability to metabolize those drugs. My body did not metabolize Amitriptyline and we dropped it.