Gabapentin to pregabalin?

[RonSton7]

Hi, i have severe cervical stenosis, chronically degenerate discs at c5 and c6 with a lot of neuropathic pain in neck, shoulder, upper back and arm. I'm also getting similar pain in my hip and foot. All left hand sided, with significant strength imbalances between left and right sides.

I'm on a waiting list for acdf surgery, but have been struggling for the last year. I'm on dihydrocodeine, baclofen, paracetamol and 2700mg a day gabapentin. Gabapentin now for 16 weeks.

I am thinking of asking gp to switch me to pregabalin. Main reason is the gabapentin did have some effect, and was better than amitriptyline, but pain is now causing me problems at work, and i think the gabapentin might also be giving me some vision problems. I have heard pregabalin might have slightly better analgesic effects and slightly less side effects.

I can't afford to not work full time, its office based, but i have a family and a young, beautiful daughter that i am desperate to support. Pain seems to run my life these days..

Has anyone switched between the two and seen any noticeable differences?

[Hidden]

Hi

I have many different conditions for which I need pain relief for. I haven't found they help that much but they might help you. I'm on nortriptyline,duloxetine, zomorph and oramorph. Sometimes paracetamol and cuprofen. I'm waiting for steroid injections which I hope will work? Please take care of yourself Lynne

[Hidden]

Hi, I felt the same as you so recently switched from Gabapentin to Pregabalin. I lasted three days! Bad headaches and loud buzzing in ears. Pregabalin can cause hearing loss long term apparently but it does seem to suit some people, just not me! Good luck!

[Purplecat45]

Hi

I was switched back in May 2019 and it did help to reduce my pain so it was manageable and I could move around more etc

But after attending a group pain management 8 week course I found that pregablin didn’t work for everyone either it wore off or they couldn’t get on with the drug because it made then ill eg headaches etc

I said that my pain had come back in August and that I didn’t think the pregablin was helping as much as it did in May. Some said yes your body gets use to it.

I’m actually having a review today after my 8 week group pain management course and I’m hoping they increase the pregablin or try me on something else

[phil4u]

If you are taking Gabapentin, most other pain killing medication will not work correctly as the gabapentin stops the signals from the pain site being received because that medication blocks only, that is it’s job. Hope this can help you and good luck for your future...

[Hidden]

Hi there, I changed from gabberpentin to pregabilin and felt a little better no side effects either but everyone is different ,I had acdf c4c5 in 2013 but symptoms persist and now waiting for another op c3 as that as bulged out which can happen when you have had a fusion but not everyone , if you take baclofen then it must be bad.

[RonSton7 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Longsider - why do you think that it is bad due to the baclofen out of interest? I've found it a life saver as it stops my back cramping up which made things really painful. I take 3 x 10mg a day.

Also what was your recovery like from the acdf?

Thank you so much for your offer of advice, appreciated.

[Hidden]

Hi ronston7 , I there I sent you a private message but if you haven't seen it I will try and answer on here first you can take a extra 10 mg baclofen a day for spasms, also recovery for acdf is different on each person depending on the time it's been going on , my recovery was nothing as I was misdiagnosed year's ago which led to cervical myelopathy which happens after disc touches the cord , so I have to manage my symptoms pain, tingling, numbness and bladder and bowel problems, if you want to ask me anything regarding this matter please post me . Clive.