My insurance is requiring me to take Gabapentin to see if it will work for my fibromyalgia pain, rather than continuing on Lyrica after 4 1/2 years because of the expense. I am taking 300 mg of Gabapentin 3x day. I am miserable, constant aching in the legs especially, my headaches and neck aches have returned, and getting to sleep at night is not a pleasant task because of pain. I am hoping that as my body adjusts to the Gabapentin that things will improve. I am wondering, however, if I am taking a lower dose of Gabapentin than a comparable dose of Lyrica that my body is used to. Is there a comparison documented somewhere?
What mg of Gabapentin (3x daily) is equal to 200mg of Lyrica (2 x daily)?
Question posted by ddjfibro on 22 Jan 2010
Last updated on 7 May 2019 by hartkaren
6 Answers
hartkaren
7 May 2019
I can't see any answers to this question
Charlie offinger
9 Jan 2018
What is this actually for
DeeDee1013
10 April 2018
As of 2 weeks ago, my doc switched me from 3000mg of Gabapentin to 300-450mg of Lyrica. I take it for nerve pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome both arms and herniated discs back & neck. I like both but don't feel the dosage of Lyrica is high enough compared to the GABA I was taking for years. I see him next week hoping he will increase the dosage. I'm tolerating it well, have energy & a healthy appetite. That's good b/c I'm thin and lose weight easily which is a problem. Lyrica makes me hungry for sure.
mrhogansr
7 May 2014
Gabbapintin is basically for nerve damage I believe the top out is 4200 mg daily. I'm on 3200 after 3 years als on Cymbalta 60 mg anxiety stress doc just added Lyrica 75mg once daily the insurance companies are freaking out because of Obama don't care crap Lyrica worked good first night I took it no tingling aching legs and feet slept good insurance companies need to shut up there not the doctors it pisses me off when they try to control what the doctors prescribe
1fig
19 June 2012
Gabapentin and Lyrica are what they call "sister drugs" so the Gaba should be alright for you and I believe you're right, you need to take more but quite what the ratio is, I am not qualified to say.
I use the Gaba for low back pain (sacroilliac) and I take 1800mg a day divided into 3 doses per day.
From what I have read and Lord knows this isn't any kind of medical advice, it seems like the fibromyalgia people take quite a high dosage of Gaba, at least to start with, then can back down. BUT what the magic number is, I do not know. Please, check with your Dr. for some guidance.
I wish you the best of luck. Once the right dose is found then you can expect to be in some much desired comfort.
I know it took about 4 weeks for it to all kick in with me and then one day, like magic, the pain was almost gone!!
Another thing about Gaba is unlike Lyrica it takes about 2-3 hours to 'kick in' but as long at you do not exceed 12 hours between doses, you should be just fine.
Take with your Dr. he/she'll have the right answers for you. : )
delimber2004
2 Aug 2012
I agree. I've been on Neurontin(Gapapentin) for 12 years 1600 - 2400 mg per day. I have had no trouble at all taking it. A study I read a couple of years ago says that only 25% of patients can even tolerate it. It has kept me on my feet and functioning. Now rheumatologist want to put me on Lyrica starting at 50 mg. My body will start going thru withdrawals if I go that low so I'm starting at 100. I think the ratio neurontin to lyrica is 4-5 to 1. Have seen a couple of comparisons. If you have been on Neurontin you better start lyrica higher. If you've been on lyrica, depending on dose, start lower. Remember, You know your body better than anybody.
haas37
16 Nov 2016
Lyrica 'pregabalin' and neurontin(gabapentin), are bot designed to work on substance P-basically excess glutamate and pain sensors. The ratio is usually 3 to 1 ie 300mg lyrica is equal to 900 mg gabapentin(neurontin). Switching should not cause ANY withdrawal symptoms. Quitting either abruptly without switching to the other certainly can. Trust me I m a pharmacist and have also used both es for fibromyagia and anxiety.
YouCanDoThis
24 May 2012
Yes, You are in withdrawal of the Lyrica. I sure hope you have not just stopped it and are on a wean down dose. Gabapentin... I really feel the Dr push this drug on us because they are tired of turning their patients into addicts. I feel Gabapentin is an awful drug. I have used it and was a zombie on it. If some one is in pain, they need a pain medication. Simple. But today, you will hear your Dr. say things like... Im just not comfortable giving that medication or Im uncomfortable giving that amount or dose. Well, thats all fine and dandy but isnt this about the comfort of the patient. If you have been diagnosed with any disease that causes moderate to severe chronic pain, then the appropriate medication would be a narcotic such as vicodin or percocet. These other drugs they push on you that have to build up in your system are definitely used as head drugs. ie depression, bi polar etc. Give the proper drugs for the proper diagnosis.
Geessh If the pt becomes dependent on the medication, let them deal with that at a later time. The top priority is to get the pt. comfortable enough to have some kind of good quality of life. see a new dr and get the right meds.
Pharmacist_ 313
23 April 2014
Pretty bold diagnosis to make over the internet without examining the patient. Bad information,too. Percocet (Schedule II) and Vicodin (Schedule III) are both far more addictive than Lyrica (Schedule IV). Medical guidelines call for using the lowest dose or least potent dose that will relieve symptoms. Your method will definitely turn her into an addict. In addition, patients build tolerance to opioids, and end up increasing their dose, usually without medical advice. Hence, the people you encounter in a pharmacy who always try to fill their opioid prescriptions days or even weeks early.
OneAvacal
29 Sep 2016
It may not be an opioid but the withdrawal is the same. Personal experience speaking.
Kikimcw
7 Feb 2017
I definitely went thru withdrawal getting off lyrica. Gabapentin did nothing for me. I'm so sorry to hear after all that time they want to switch you to something that don't work for A LOT of people.
Jypsi
16 Nov 2018
I was on 1800. 600 mg 3xd. my of gabapentin for about 4 years and they put me on lyrica 50 mg then 75mg 3xd. I'm in lots of pain lyrica needs increased. Hoping to find correct dosage that will give me relief
Psychmajor
22 Jan 2010
were you tapered off of lyrica at all? this is a narcotic with withdrawal effects and you may be experiancing this. Im not sure if this is a comparative dose or even if the gabapentin is going to work for you but this should work quite well since it acts on the nerves and slows the rate at which they fire which is the theory behind fybro
sandee1818
25 Sep 2014
Lyrica is NOT a narcotic and to answer the question at hand... It takes double the amount of gabapantin by mg to equal each mg of lyrica. I have found this to be true as I'm in the same situation.
billy1313
8 Jan 2015
My doctor has taking me off 2700mg of gabapentin to start me with 2 x 75 pregabalin and I'm going through a lot of pain could anyone tell me what amount of pregabalin I should be getting put up to plz help I'm in agony:(
yeahhhappygirl
26 Feb 2015
Lyrica; is a narcotic schedule V- and hopefully you were tapered off.
Schedule V drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV and consist of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. Schedule V drugs are generally used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes. Some examples of Schedule V drugs are:
cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine or per 100 milliliters (Robitussin AC), Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, Parepectolin
Source: dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml
OneAvacal
29 Sep 2016
I took 600 mg a day of Lyrica for two years. I am in my third week of hell on earth trying to come off it. Because of cost I could not taper off. I was left in a very dangerous situation with no help from my doctor. Do not take this poison if you can help it. You will go thru a lot coming off it.
Throbi
29 July 2017
I had the same problem! I wasn't taking near enough Gabapentin to match my dose of Lyrica, therefore I was going through withdrawal. You do not have to taper going from one to the other, but the doses have to match. I can't remember my dose of Lyrica - I think it was 300, but I needed 3- 600mg (1800 mg / day) of the Gabapentin. I showed my dr a chart of the doses so he increased my Gabapentin and I felt better immediately. It works great for me and is so much cheaper.
Imme0702
5 April 2018
Lyrica is not a narcotic, opioid, or benzo. It works altogether different than any of those drug classes. Having taken both Lyrica and Gabapentin, and an opioid for pain management, my best result has come from the Gabapentin. A neurologist I saw prescribed 1800 mg of Gabapentin daily for neuralgia. He said that 1800 mg is the "max effective dose". I wonder if some docs are undereducated r/t max efficacy, and prescribe in response to pt complaints.
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lyrica, pain, fibromyalgia, gabapentin
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