nerve pain meds that wont cause weight gain?

I had bad luck with Tricyclics and weight gain.  its too bad because they worked.  i didnt even eat more, it just slowed my metabolism i guess.  but i gained nearly 20 pounds in a short time.  THen switched to Gapapentin and got less releif.  i started exercising and dieting but cant lose weight, and i'm supspecting the Gabapentin is starting to make me put on pounds as well.  i dont even have an elevated appetite.  Now i want to try something else becuse i cant keep letting this weight gain happen.  there are lots of overweight people in my family who really struggle, so i need to stay healthy.  i'm beside myself though.  I need these kind of meds, but cant afford to gain weight.  i'm not trying to be vain, i jsut dont want my depression to get worse because of my horrible self image.  By the way, i have interstitial cystitis and Pudendal neuralgia, and normal OTC pain relievers dont touch it, and niether do opiates really.  Tramadol does work occasionally but i dont know how healthy it is to take around the clock.  i'm only 24 and i already hate life!  I really need releif because i have a sitting office job and it hurts to sit :(

Have you tried Lyrica? It is similar to gabapentin in action. It does list weight gain as a possible side effect but that does not occur in everyone.

I have been taking gabapentin for 3.5 years. In that time I have lost over 40 pounds. Gabapentin does cause fluid retention. I have found that if I watch my salt intake and drink plenty of fluids, I do not retain water from it. I have to take Tramadol with my Neurontin to get effective pain relief. I have been taking the gabapentin-traadol combo for over 2 years.

I have been on Topamax and have found it to help the most for my pain. It also has the side effect of loosing weight. It doesn't happen to everyone though. I was on many other antiseizure drugs before this and gained alot of weight. I was then put on Topamax, and lost so much weight that they had to take me off of it. I was under 100 pounds. I later went back on it and have been back on it for about a year and a half and it has helped alot. I didn't do well with Lyrica because of the weight gain and I had alot of the peripheral edema with it as well. Good luck and I hope you find some relief.

I’ve been on Topirimate or Topomax (same thing) for years. I also took Lyrica many years ago, but had the same problems with it as some have mentioned + it made me stutter. Topomax did help me lose weight, over 100 lbs. But it is listed as a side affect and doesn’t affect everyone this way. I take 200 mgs a day.
My Medtronics Intrathecal pump (my 2nd) Simple continuous per day as follows—Fentanyl 801/mcg Bupivicaine 6.141 mg and just yesterday 3/2/23 He added the beginning dose of Baclofen 53.04 mcg.

I especially wanted to write today because really my own ignorance. I think as an Intractable Chronic Pain Sufferers we sometimes get so used to being in pain that we grow accustomed to it and I for one began to grin and bear it. I thought that because they had been pumping Fentanyl for 7 years into my IT Sack, I had nowhere left to go. I kept telling my doctor to please turn my dose up. When what I should have been saying is IT’S TOO MUCH TO BEAR what can you do? Im not sure exactly how long I let this go on, but it was quite some time.
We finally had a misunderstanding that prompted an honest conversation.
We have to be our own advocates. Unfortunately we have been placed in a somewhat suspicious situation whereby some people are looking for the medicine that we require and they’re doing any number of illegal things. I hate people to look at me like I’m a dope fiend.
I am so fortunate to have a Pain Management doctor that doesn’t tolerate any hanky panky. No long lines waiting when I show up. If you don’t tow the line, you are outta there. Makes me feel safe. I’m in Houston and I ran into a patient yesterday that drives in from Fort Worth. That’s 4 or 5 hours one way. It’s that hard to find a Doctor that will work with you in the current climate. I’m sure I’m not telling any of you anything.
I wish all of you well. I’m so happy to have found you. I came looking for an answer the the 8503 code. Thank goodness y’all were there. I’m enduring without my bolus. I’m so used to that extra Fentanyl that after 2 or 3 days, it affects almost every aspect of me. My pain of course, but I really have minor withdrawals. That’s another story.
Thanks for being there. Take care.