Lyrica and neurontin for crohns disease and other health problems?

Hi, Sav,
I do take neurontin for the neuropathic symptoms in my feet and yes, it does make me foggy. I had to start my doses VERY slowly - even having to ask my neurologist for 100mg tabs (now I take 1600mg/day, which is a mid-level dose) and he thought I was nuts but it helped.

I am not a doctor and don't think anyone here is, but neurontin and lyrica and very similar meds and I didn't think you were supposed to be on both at the same time. Maybe there's something unusual about your situation. Lyrica is sort of a newer form of neurontin, and is supposed to have fewer side effects. I would tell your doctor what you're experiencing and see if maybe you could just try the lyrica first.

I'd suggest going to the lyrica website and reading up on dosage levels. It's fairly new and I've found doctors tend to put you on too low a dose. This has happened twice to me. 75mg of Lyrica is, to my knowledge, a starter dose and probably won't cover your pain. But if you're taking both neurontin and lyrica together, there's no way to tell which one is working and which is causing more of the side effects.

While these aren't class 2 narcotics, I believe they are technically controlled substances - I think maybe a C5. There is some potential for addiction physically, but not as much as with the percocet. Have you consulted an Addictionologist? That's an M.D. with a specialty in Addiction Medicine and they have special protocols for dealing with chronic pain. Good for you trying to stay on top of this - I know it's hard to juggle. But knowledge is power so read the websites for lyrica and neurontin, and you'll have a better idea of what they do. And then I'd suggest talking with your doctor.

Hope this helps a bit!

PaLady
p.s. I'd probably be on lyrica if I could find a doctor that would give me a high enough dose so I could get off the neurontin, but also the lyrica is more expensive. It is supposed to have fewer side effects. Also, has you doctor tried cymbalta?

I was on Lyrica for 5 days it helped but i swelled up like a ballon dr. took me off it and but me on neurontin  which has really helped my nerve pain in the legs.Deb

Actually as someone who is in pain and wants off all of pain meds, when I ask about Lyrica the doctors freak out like I'm asking for Cocaine or something very illegal. It really frustrates me, I've tried Neurontin but it had too many side effects, and I've heard through friends that Lyrica worked much better, but yet for some odd reason their must be a warning on that drug somewhere that says "please dont prescribe to Carmen". And I have done some research on Lyrica and eventhough it is a scheaduled drug, it's not as addicting as narcotics. See, for me, I wanted off of pain meds that's why I'm on Suboxone, and I cant take most NSAIDs cause they cause severe heartburn, which I can take Ibprofen but only once in a great while or the heartburn sets in, this includes prescribed NSAIDS, and Tylenol makes me vomit like crazy so thats off limits. And I'm already taking Cymbalta which isnt helping a whole lot, so that leaves Lyrica. Unless I'm missing something else, which in that case please please let me know, I'm SOL. And just so you know, I see a very wonderful addiction specialist that is also a family doctor (but not my regualur doctor, I just see and pay him for the Suboxone program), and he wont help me a great deal when it comes to pain, basically told me to seek out counciling, which I've tried and hasnt helped. Well enough of me rambling on, have a great day.

-hellokitty (Carmen)

---

I have Migraines, Pancreatic Divisum, Severe lower back pain, Fibromyalgia, Asthma from Chronic Bronchitis

Meds: Suboxone 8mg 3xday, Cymbalta 60mg @ night,

Zanaflex 2-4 mg @ night as needed, Treximet as needed,

Ventolin Albuterol Inhaler as needed which seems to be everyday.

Been on Diability since I was 22 for Migraines and chronic Pancreatitas(started the processes when I was 19, I'm 25 now) but am working to get off of it ASAP,I want to be a nurse and work at a Impatient rehab with people with addictions of all kinds

I sincerly appreciate all the replies here. I have an appointment with a pain managent doctor on thusday. I am already feeling really depressed an overwhelmed tonight. I started another thread that says a little more about me here in Chronic Pain forum. I cant really think to straigh right now and dont know what else to say. Maybe tomarrow will be a better day. Thank you so much for the replies. I read and make notes to talk to my doc on thursday.

Well I had severe mood swings yestrday. I posted just a few minutes ago on the effects Im feeling and a little indepth explaination on my history of drug abuse. As for the side effect of the neurontin and lyrica in short, I have mood swings and Im eating like a horse. I also have hand trembling and I dont know how to explain it but its kinda like my arms get twitchy. Now I have noticed alot of the responses were in reference to pain in nerve endings in the hands, feet, or legs. My question is this: I dont and never have had any pain in my hands, feet, legs. My pain is all in my gut. Its constant in my lower abdomen and back. I do have Crohns in my small intestines, IBS, and spastic colon, and constant kidney stones. The pain never generates to anywhere but my gut and middle back. I had an MRI while in the hospital and it was perfect. Thankful for that for sure! So why the medicine for seizures, or fibro? I dont get it. Its like they are treatin me for something I dont have. I dont understand. I wasnt given counsel at the hospital either. Both of my docs left town that week and left me in the care of someone Ive never met. I just dont get it.Both both doctors are adament that I see a pain doctor. They said no more narcotics period.

I will say that since Ive been taking the lyrica I sleep like the dead. The 1st night home after the hospital I took my medicine and when I wnt to bed, Sometime during the night I had the most embarrasing thing happen. I had messed the bed and didnt even know till morning. OMG. I was so ashamed. I almost threw everything in the trash. But I kept taking it. It hasnt happened again yet. Anyway, enough of the gross stuff. Thanks again fo the replies. It helps to learn.

I too have Crohns disease and had lots of pain with it. I started taking remicaid about 1 1/2 ago. It helped significantly with the pain, and healed my fistulas as well. I have had no Crohns complications at all since taking it.

I had to take neurontin about 6months ago for nerve pain related to a herniated disk. I felt so fuzzy all the time and went from a straight a student to solid Cs (I sometimes feel lucky to have passed courses at all). I am trying to get away from neurontin all together but have had so many reoccurances with leg pain I am almost scared to stop it all together.

Again, remicaid is a wonder for crohns. A lot of people do not like it because it does make you a little tired for a few days after the treatment, but I always schedule it on a friday and am back up and going by monday. Also this treatment is only once every 8 weeks. As far as finances, there are lots of programs that will cover the treatment if you do not have insurance. With my insurance I only pay a 35 copay (which sure beats the 8,000) without insurance.

Good luck to you. I know how hard having Crohns can be.