Are gabapentin and pregabalin completely interchangeable?

[Toz]

I am prescribed both of these drugs for neuropathic pain and I can not decide which one I want to use. I think pregabalin is the better choice, it feels more clean. However I have read that withdrawals are much worse from pregabalin and I do not wish to use these meds for an eternity. Can I switch back to gabapentin later as easily if I wanted to as I could switch from gabapentin to pregabalin?

 

[pasha]

speaking from experience, they are very interchangeable. more so when jumping from gabapentin to pregabalin. when the opposite is done more work is necessary in order to compensate for the difference in potency between the two.

 

[paranoid android]

I was on them for a long time to treat neuropathic pain. I was mostly on gabapentin but i took pregabalin whenever my doctor had sample packs of Lyrica. I didn't go into withdrawal switching from one to the other as long as i got the change in dose right as pregabalin is alot more potent then gabapentin and it doesn't have the variability in bioavailability that gabapentin does.

I had a really hard time withdrawing from gabapentin actually. It took me months to taper off and could be best described as sort of like going through benzodiazepine and opiate withdrawals at the same time. If pregabalin is harder to come off then i wouldn't want to experience it.

 

[Rio Fantastic]

Short answer: Yes

Long answer: Mostly, yes.

 

[Toz]

I was on them for a long time to treat neuropathic pain. I was mostly on gabapentin but i took pregabalin whenever my doctor had sample packs of Lyrica. I didn't go into withdrawal switching from one to the other as long as i got the change in dose right as pregabalin is alot more potent then gabapentin and it doesn't have the variability in bioavailability that gabapentin does.

I had a really hard time withdrawing from gabapentin actually. It took me months to taper off and could be best described as sort of like going through benzodiazepine and opiate withdrawals at the same time. If pregabalin is harder to come off then i wouldn't want to experience it.

Thanks, it's what I wanted to hear. When I am done with these meds, if ever, I will do a taper that will last years. I have no plans on suffering the horrific withdrawals of gabapentin, those are the worst in the world. Unfortunately the pain got so bad I started up this med (I have been addicted before) again. I do not think it was a wise choice now that my pain levels have stabilized again, but when your body feels like it's burning up from the inside it's hard to think straight. I knew these meds would have many side effects for me, but it was years since I used them so somehow I had forgotten how annoying they really were. Now I need to find a dose that's not moronic (4800mg daily gabapentin is) where I can tolerate my pain and then see where to go from there.

 

[THCified]

Gabapentin doesn't seem to have such a (somewhat even drastic) impact on Libido (and also even male T-Levels) as Pregabalin does, which is why is stopped taking Lyrica completely some months ago. I've gotten both prescribed before and tbh, and in contrast to most peoples opinions, 'like' Gabapentin way more for both, rare recreational use, Ope-detox and pain management. Not just does it feels 'better' (to me at least), it's also working exactly as good for neuropathic pains as Pregabalin does.

But this is just me, in the end you've to choose for yourself! But if you're male, i'd think twice before choosing Pregabalin (especially if you're also taking Opioids/Opiates). Keep in mind that the negative effects on libido are getting worse the longer you take it and the overall daily dose taken of course!