Someone mentioned that in a Gabapentin thread and its got me wondering now.
Are Gabapentin and Lyrica the same base drug?
Question posted by overprescribedagain on 17 April 2013
Last updated on 8 February 2019
10 Answers
19kbaby82
2 Feb 2019
Gabapentin and Lyrica or use for the same thing but not the same drug a lot People say that lyrical works better but for me gabapentin is best for me it's really up to your body
Jimmy304752
26 June 2018
Yes I think its considered the same but its effects are different. I take 300 mgs a day and it helps my nerve pain in my arm and ankle.I used to take gabapentin and it also helped but to me the lyrica seems a little stronger than gabapentin.
BmicaelA12345
19 June 2018
Anyone got gabapentin? Near Salem Oregon.
robinrhall20181964
21 April 2018
I don’t know the answer to my question
Please respond if you do
Sharr1
31 Aug 2017
They are from the same family , gabapentin and
pregabalin except , the lyrica pregabalin make you feel a little drunk if you over take your doze, they make you feel very sleepy, the gabapentin don't have the sleepy effect that's the only difference I found in them, they are brilliant for pain and nerve damage, the lyrica would be best for severe back pain , or any nerve damage, I'm on lyrica 300 mg 3 times a day =900mg
Sharon
healthy Christina
2 Sep 2017
I'm curious about where you live because my Dr's. tell me the highest I can go on lyrica is 150mg. 3x per day for my fibro. and I've been on the same dose for over 9 years. It's not as effective as it used to be and may be one of a couple of meds. that has kept my spleen enlarged after I got off the possible original med. that caused the enlargement, but it is the only reason I can get out of bed in the morning. My Dr's also tell me they can't give me anything else to treat my fibro because nothing else is FDA approved (except I know Savella is FDA approved but I'm already taking it's antidepressant counterpart Fetzima or I would have corrected them). I'm trying to get approval for a muscle relaxer that was prescribed and worked to eliminate some of the pain that I have never seen relief from in my legs but then was told by insurance that it wasn't covered.
I'm still in the process of trying to get the correct diagnosis for my autoimmune disease(s) but the enlarged spleen not caused by autoimmune disease has made that difficult. I live in southeast Kansas and I need an increase in my lyrica or a change in medication but being on medicare seems to be making med change impossible. HELP
kazberri
7 May 2018
Hi there I find gabapentin makes me very sleepy I’m on 1800 a day my constant said it could go a little more but have put so much weight around my tummy area it doesn’t help with my spinal pain and my fibromyalgia been on this dose for 10 years ...
Jokergt50
19 Aug 2018
I take 3600 mg per day which is the top of the recommended daily dose. It has saved my life. I have fibro so severe I was practically crippled. Lower doses did nothing for me. 3600 and I'm up and running my business again instead of leaving it to others. It's lovely.
CA-BobT
14 March 2017
They are different drugs but they are like cousins. Lyrica has one less carbon atom in the molecule. This makes the structure more open. Lyrica is absorbed quicker and longer. However, both gabapentin and pregabalin(Lyrica) work the same way. They attach to a specific sub-unit protien and buffer the calcium ions in the voltage gated calcium channels. This is where nerves are activated.
Both drugs were developed by the same company but pregabalin was invented by a researcher in conjunction with Park-Davis.
Dajewels
19 April 2017
I'm allergic to gabapentin. Would Lyrica give me problems as well?
ruthecollins
8 Jan 2017
I think lyrica and gabapentin are very much the same drug
MissMoxxie
2 Jan 2017
For Bestbuys
Yes, Neurontin worked like a miracle for ONE MONTH for me, then I was back to before. My DR at the time, just kept increasing the dosage. I stopped taking it and just recently giving it another try
Benjamin P1225
9 Feb 2019
Gabapentin isnt one of the medications i take daily. Its never been effective in any way, no matter how high the dose or how long i use it. If anything, it causes irritability and made my legs feel restless. However, I've had success with Lyrica and currently still using the drug at 300mgs twice daily.
yearsofit
23 April 2013
Lyrica is FDA approved for fybromyalgia, gabapentin is not. Gabapentin is used for several off-label areas such as nerve pain and fibromyalgia. Lyrica is also used for some off-label areas. Drug companies cannot advertise for anything not approved by the FDA, but doctors can still prescribe off-label for other areas. There are some technical differences in how they work. Gabapentin is nonlinear and Lyrica is linear in dose-response relationship. Lyrica dosages are thought to have more predictability in the effect on the body. Gabapentin dosages are thought by some to be more unpredictable in relation to effect. Some think a higher gabapentin dosage may actual have less effect than lower dosages. Being nonlinear, some think gabapentin results vary more from person to person.
Leaning more toward conspiracy theory, some think when Pfizer's patent expired on Neurontin, so a generic gabapentin could be sold, they came up with a "better" option that would make more money than a drug that had a generic competitor. Pfizer was still the sole seller of the generic under their subsidiary Greenstone, but in 2004, Teva in Israel was licensed to sell the generic. In 2004, Lyrica was developed. Some think that coincidence is suspicious. There are valid differences between the two drugs, but some still feel the system is flawed.
karijmc
5 Dec 2018
Although this is very interesting, it did not answer my question. In fact, every comparison question ive asked about the two is ambiguous. all I know, is that I can take two 300mg lyrica, and my pain is gone and im up off the couch. Whereas if I take two 300mg gabapentin, there is no such result.In fact, I feel little relief... next to none. why?
yearsofit
5 Dec 2018
To karijmc, Short answer is they have the same base, but can behave differently because gabapentin is non-linear and pregabalin is linear.
In pharmacokinetics, I would say they have the same base, because both are gabapentinoids, calcium-channel blockers, GABA analogues, γ-amino acids, and both require crossing the blood–brain barrier, both have identical sites of action, and because of the history mentioned in my first post.
Per non-linear and linear, Gabapentin only uses the large amino transporter 1 (LAT1) for absorption. Pregabalin uses LAT1 AND additional transporters. The LAT1 transporter can get saturated with the med and then block anymore of the med above a certain level (that varies with each unique person). This means the bio-availability can be different for each person. That is why some studies suggest low dosage gabapentin may actually have more effect because it doesn't saturate LAT1.
Pregabalin uses additional transporters, so the med can still get through (increase bio-availability). In short, gabapentin and especially dosage may work differently for each person. Time release options may work differently. Because of the transport differences in each person, gabapentin may not seem like it does much. Pregabalin is more likely to get more of the med to the right place consistently (bioavailability).
Gabapentin if often prescribed first because of cost. I believe pregabalin's patent is slated to expire in 2018, so this may change pricing. Also a person needs to remember that if a med is used for off label use, a calcium blocker (either gabapentin or pregabalin/Lyrica) may not help. It is my personal experience that calcium channel blockers vary for help with chronic pain versus breakthrough pain.
kaismama
17 April 2013
No, Gabapentin is just that and lyrica is pregabalin. They are the same type of med but not the same med.
pickles503
24 April 2013
Good answer, Kai.
pickles503
24 April 2013
Hi Over. You can find the question I asked under "Hey! my precious friends. ? How are you?" It would probably be on my name, pickles503. Let me know if your unable to find it.
Love,,
Anna
bestbuys
11 May 2013
Gabapentin is the generic for Neurontin. I was just prescribed Gab by my pain Dr. in response to a pain crisis in the lumbar area that spiked to #8 to #9 pain level. He gave me a spinal injection just above the Lumbar spine fusion site, I, RIGHT NOW AM PAIN FREE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 12 YEARS! It feels very surreal. I have had Fibro and spinal stenosis combined with arthritis since 1998. The Fibro started in 2004. I'm taking 1800mg per day in 3 doses. I am hoping to God that this is REAL! Has anyone had this kind of response to Gab in their first week?
TPColeman42
30 Oct 2014
Hi Best, I know this is an old post but I was thrilled to find it. I too suffer from Horrible back pain and have for many years. I get 6-8 weekly injections of Cortisone in my Lumbar, Thoracic and neck area. The Lumbar injections work well, but are obviously temporary. I think now I will ask about the Neurontin injections. I take Lyrica and it does help some, but the burns on my back from heating pads and constant pain would suggest otherwise. I have been seeing Chiropractors since I was 10 yrs old (almost 35 yrs now!) and only surgery has been suggested as a real viable option. I refuse to do this as it often causes more problems than help. Sooooo... thanks for the tip. I really hope this treatment is still working for you!
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lyrica, pain, fibromyalgia, gabapentin
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