Will Neurontin Work as Well as Lyrica for Fibromyalgia?

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I started taking 75 mg capsule of Lyrica last night. I feel slightly "loopy and groggy" but not that bad. I also had double vison when I first woke up but that went away. If I continue to take it, will the side effects go away eventually?

Mary of VA 3:44PM March 18, 2013

I have had shooting pain in my calf at night when I lie horizontal since October...hve fianally been sleeping sitting up....only way to get an hour or two. In January I had an mri on my back and it showed my L5 out of whack. I had a corisone injection and those have worked in the past. This one worked 50%. I can walk up long stairs w/o using the hand rail, but still cannot sleep. My dr. ordered another injection this week. Plus he ordered Lyrica. I hve good insurance but this was denied and I am not going to pay the high cost of it .... I have nve had a nerve pill before.... hydrocodone works somewhat at night as well as Soma, but my dr says they are addictive. I am going to call him tomorrw and suggest Neuronten.... I dont hve anything else wrong, so maybe that and the 2nd injection will work.

Barb of WA 5:36PM March 03, 2013

I had been dealing with severe leg pain and other pain thru my whole body. I had gone to one doctor that told me I had arthritis. Told me to take a anti-inflamatory. Then went to another doctor that told me I might have rematoid arthritis, which was not the case. Then another Doctor told to I needed to see a Pysch Doctor. (It was all in my head). Then another Doctor told me it was degenerative disc disease. Finally a Doctor told me it was Fibromyalgia and put me on Lyrica. What a godsend. I am going to ask her to up the dose. but it is working. I have gone over to years and was getting to the point of ending it. But Lyrica has saved my life.

Suzanee of WI 4:20PM February 19, 2013

Lyrica is a drug you have to be slowly introduced to. And then finding a dose that keeps your pain a bay. I would recommend it too almost anyone with cronic pain. Lyrica and Cymbalta together for me just made me feel High. But Lyrica on its own gave me many months in a row almost completely pain free. Getting the right dose is key to Lyrica.

Allie of MS 11:07PM September 18, 2012

I too have fibro, IC & 7 buldged discs. I've been on Savella, Cymbalta and lastly Lyrica.
In all the Lyrica for me was a God sent. With out it was in a constant state of pain.
My Dr. wanted to up my Lyrica, which caused the price to double. He then recommended
I try using Neurontin, 300 mg. 3 x aday. I'm just starting it tonight along with Mobic 15 mg.
Once a day. I pray it works for me. The two are similar in make up. But if it doesn't, I will have to find a way to get the money for the Lyrica, especially because it worked so well for me. My Doctor would give he samples when he has them. That may also be an option if your trying it for the first time, especially because it is pricy. Best wishes to you all, a pain free day!

Allie of MS 11:00PM September 18, 2012

Lyrica along with Cymbata is the worst med I have ever taken. My Dr. prescribed the Cymbata for back and foot pain and it worked for both, but the other side affects were horrible: unstable on my feet and hives. I even stopped riding my MC because of the unstableness (if that's a word). My Dr switched me over to Lycria and it made the unstableness caused by the Cymbata look mild. In addition, my vision would completely blur for about 2 hours. I had this with Cymbalta to a lesser degree. I guess I can't take a nuero director, so I guess my feet and back will just hurt and I will have to deal with it. The best for the back is Vicodin (hydrocodone) about every other day. For the firey feet...crocs which don't match up well with required clothes, even somewhat casual, for work.

SNM of TX 8:31PM July 02, 2012

if neurotin is the same as lyica why is lyica on the market for over $200.00 and ther Dr. ask my daughter to take it and she has no job and cannot afford that kind of drug. This is so unfair to her and I cannot understand it. She even took a coupon you had on the enternet that said "save up to 75%" and it was still over $200.00. What are you trying to do to people like her. She didn't get it.

Peggy collier of AL 11:20PM June 08, 2012

if neurotin is the same as lyica why is lyica on the market for over $200.00 and ther Dr. ask my daughter to take it and she has no job and cannot afford that kind of drug. This is so unfair to her and I cannot understand it. She even took a coupon you had on the enternet that said "save up to 75%" and it was still over $200.00. What are you trying to do to people like her. She didn't get it.

Peggy collier of AL 11:18PM June 08, 2012

I am on 600mg of Lyrica, spread out over 3 doses per day, and I can attest to the fact that without it, I would not be able to move. I feel like I have no pain, aches, strain, or shooting tension pains like I used to. I did gain a bit of weight with the Lyrica, but with a little regular exercise, which for me is walking, some light weight training, and regular stretching with gentle yoga moves, it is coming off just fine. I do have a bit of blurry vision, but compared to the pain relief I have gotten, that side effect is a small price to pay for getting my life back thru the use of Lyrica.
I know many patients will try Lyrica and then go off of it due to the weight gain, which always hits the middle tummy area, but with a regular exercise routine, rest assured it will come off. I have encouraged friends to stick with it as the effectiveness of this medication absolutely outweighs the side effects. And we all need regular exercise anyway….so this is a big motivator to do it !
One thing I’d like to bring to people’s attention is that if you cannot budge the weight off, ask your doctor to test you for TSH, electrolytes, blood sugar, etc. as Lyrica has been known to slow-down metabolism and cause thyroid problems. Without the thryroid functioning properly, your weight will continue to gain or be stubborn to lose. So please get those checked before you give up Lyrica.
Good Luck !

MAc of CA 8:08AM January 03, 2011

I have just started Lyrica, so I don't know whether it will work or not. I have taken Neurontin when I had back surgery; it did very well but didn't seem to work fast enough to handle my pain. To Catrina of KY: I've been taking hydrocodone and carisoprodol (SOMA) for about eight years. Hydrocodone runs its course. I'm going to have to go to something else because hydrocodone doesn't seem to work any more. There is no one miracle cure. I think you just have to keep changing and trying new things to find what works. A miracle pill would be worth anything I had to pay!!

Linda of GA 4:31PM June 23, 2010