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Misc switching from gabapentin to lyrica is horrible!

soundsystem00

soundsystem00

Bluelighter
Joined
Mar 19, 2005
Messages
14,849
Location
In my head less and less.
I have been on 800mg gabapentin 2x a day for about 6 months now. Before the 6 months, I was on 100mg gabapentin 3x a day for about 6 months too. About a year in all.

I just switched to lyrica, 200mg twice a day. I take 200mg in the morning and 200mg after I get off work. I have felt so shitty the past week ever since I started this. The lyrica feels like it is doing nothing, and I feel like I am withdrawing for the gabapentin.

Its pretty damn uncomfortable. I definitely did not expect this. I cut my gabapentin into really small pieces and I have just kind of been listening to my body and trying to decide when to take the gabapentin and when not. If I dose a small amount of gabapentin along with my morning dose of lyrica, I feel uncomfortable and dizzy.

Part of me wants to just quit taking the gabapentin alltogether and just rough it out, and part of me wants to keep trying to taper. My doc definitely didn't warn me about this, and I really don't even think he knows anything about it.

Some of the things I am feeling are : horrible mood, depression, no energy, lethargy, and irritability.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. If not, I will understand because I couldn't find shit online about this. The few things I found, people said nothing about the problem. I wonder if maybe I got some bunk lyrica or something from the pharmacy.
 
Sorry to hear you're having a tough time with the switch. Theres many claims on BL regarding similar feelings.

I switched straight from 2400 split doses of Gabapentin to Lyrica 150, 2-3 times daily seamlessly, but I know that's not the case for all.

The correct way to switch is to taper Gabapentin down to a measly dose while adding in lyrica 50mgs nearing the end of your taper. Then titrating up to an equianalgesic dose.

For some reason some can transition easily and others suffer wds from Gabapentin while experiencing new side effects from Lyrica.

Headache, sinus pain, scratchy dry throat & dizziness & somnolence are extremely common at commencing lyrica.

Lyrica & Gabapentin both have warnings that if you feel depression, anger etc to cease & contact your dr as they both can increase suicidal feelings & thoughts.

Hope you feel better soon,

Rtp
 
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^I think that's directed at the OP, but for myself, I'd been on gabapentin long term & didn't feel it was that helpful anymore. Tolerance etc, +Lyrica had just become approved on the pbs for neuropathic pain. My dr had no prob in switching me straight over.


Rtp
 
A lot of people praise Lyrica because it absorbs better (high oral BA) and it's technically more potent than gabapentin. Addicts flock to it because it's controlled...

The truth- doctors have told me to my face that aside from absorption rates, Lyrica and Gabapentin do the exact same thing, I.e they're the same drug.

I couldn't stay on the Lyrica because I can't get prescribed an equivalent dose to my 800mg of gabapentin 4x a day. Lyrica is more potent, but is prescribed in much smaller doses than Gabapentin.

I honestly like Gabapentin better for round the clock use. OP... You are experiencing moderate gaba withdrawal. More like being uncomfortable and your body may not tolerate the Lyrica well. My advice is to switch back to the Gabapentin immediately after contacting your physician.
 
I switched as my own decision. My doctor kind of let's me play doctor. I do remember his assistant mentioning lyrica because of the severe headaches gabapentin was causing.

I dosed 200mg lyrica this morning.i kind of feel it but I'm still too busy with the gabapentin WDS to notice much. I feel much better than yesterday though. Something to note is that I did not take a headache pill this morning and do NOT have a headache. Which is breakthrough for me. First time in MONTHS that I haven't had to dose 2-3 Tylenol or alleve in the morning. That alone will make me want to stay with lyrica. And I don't feel so dope up, if that makes sense. It feels "cleaner" if you will.

Thanks for the help very much. I should have tapered off the gabapentin before beginning lyrica. I'll definitely let me doc know. I should be good so discontinue the gabapentin now.

How much more discomfort should I expect? I was thinking 1 week tops.
 
I was previously prescribed 1800mg 2x a day and asked to be changed to 300mg of Lyrica 3x and the Lyrica works much better for me and if I take a double dose feel quite nice.
 
I'm in week three Lyrica withdrawal. Three weeks to go. I took 600mg a day for neuropathic pain, but the pain kept breaking through so I'm starting duloxetine now.

One word of good advice about Lyrica: it dumbs you down and affects your memory. If you find yourself stumbling over your words and getting confused and foggy, discuss changing to something else. I took it for 6 months and I seriously thought I was getting dementia. I'm down to 300mg per day now, I'm slowly tapering to naught. Withdrawal is a bitch.
 
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