Neurontin?

Fireweed

Has anyone used this drug for chronic pain after surgery and rads?

Mary-Lou

I have to take it for the neuropathy. Don't know what I would do with out it.

Anonymous

I used it for awhile for neuropathy too and it lost it's effectiveness for me. Fortunately, the neuropathy has mostly resolved with time. I have heard, though, that if Neurontin doesn't quite do it for you, Lyrica is a similar drug that has been shown to be even more effective.

~Marin

Isabella4

Yes, I have been on Neurontin for over a year now, maybe 18 months. I have chronic pain from surgery and rads, on my 'bad' side, which got to pretty unbearable.

I started off at 300mg. per day, not much effect. Went on to 600mg. per day, a bit better, but still painful.

Upped it to 900mg., almost there, then Dr. suggested I go onto 1200mgs., but split it into 3 doses, and I just could NOT remember the dose in the middle of the day, so its a bit hit and miss now !! When the pain bothers me I remember !!

I was going to ask if there was an alternative that was any better, but I forgot !!

Isabella.

Sierra

Yes, I used it some time ago

and had an allergic reaction to this

medication



rash, etc. throat and

trouble breathing..



was told to go to Emergency



I just sort of rest my arm now

every l5 minutes



I still have neuropathy and

will deal with it on my own



Best to you with this medication

though











Everyone reacts differently

SoCalLisa

Neurontin is usually prescribed for nerve pain among other things...

I took neurontin for a few years for my neuropathy in my feet...I switched to Lyrica which seems to help me more..

phoenix54

i take it for hot flashes and it works like a charm. 600 mg at bedtime

celia088

I have noticed lately that Cymbalta (an anti-depressant) is now also being marketed heavily for relief of diabetic nerve pain or neuropathy.  Eli Lilly is putting cards in the diabetic magazines for people to send back to receive an information kit which also contains a DVD of information about nerve pain and Cymbalta.  I have no idea about Cymbalta's effectiveness for this problem, but the number to call for the kit is 1-800-LILLYRX or 1-800-545-5979.

saluki

Hi Fireweed,

If you are taking Neurontin (Gabapentin) for hot flashes, you can get by

on a pretty low dose.

But, for neuropathic pain the effective dosage range to really give you substantial pain relief is 1800 mg to 2400mg. 

I couldn't even get to a therapeutic dose without being too dizzy to get across a room and becoming a complete zombie----But hey---You will sleep like log!

As to Lyrica it is very similar to Neurontin, but it is effective more quickly

and at a much lower dose.  It has 90% bioavailability and the upper recommended limits are 300 mg.

Supposedly, Lyrica has less SE's but,-- you could have fooled me.  I had the same SE's as the Neurontin.

Also, most prescription coverage excludes Lyrica because they feel it does not justify the higher cost.

Actually, you may want to look at the tricyclic anti-depressants.  If you

can tolerate the side effects they do a good job with chronic pain.

If you can't --Celia is right.----The next best thing is Cymbalta;  Another newer anti-depressant, which may give you some relief without as many side effects.  One caveat though:  If you have any liver problems this

is not the med for you.

Take care 

saluki

Sierra--The FDA just issued a warning about Lyrica for the very reasons

you are attributing to Neurontin.  It's a very similar med by the same company--Pfizer and they brought out Lyrica when they were about to loose the patent on Neuronton (Gabapentin)-----It just went generic in the USA. 

Celia I had to laugh about the Cymbalta commercial.---I new about the liver problems, but according to the Wall Street Journal The FDA isn't laughing.  It has had enough of Lilly's commercials. 

----------------------------

FDA Asks Eli Lilly to Stop
Promotion of Cymbalta

Associated Press
October 3, 2007 12:48 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Eli Lilly and Co. has been asked to stop a Cymbalta promotion that makes misleading claims and understates risk, according to a letter sent to the drug maker by the Food and Drug Administration.

The letter said a mailer for the fast-selling drug overstates effectiveness and "omits some of the most serious and important risk information associated with its use." The letter was posted on the federal regulator's Web site. It asked Lilly to "immediately cease" disseminating the material.

The company is working with the FDA "to gain a greater understanding of their concerns," Lilly spokesman Charlie McAtee said. Lilly will take action once it has "more clarity" on the agency's comments, he said.

Cymbalta treats depression, diabetic nerve pain and general anxiety disorder.

The mailer promotes the drug's use for diabetic nerve pain and states that those patients experienced "significantly less pain interference with overall functioning" when using the drug. The FDA letter noted that this "has not been demonstrated by substantial evidence or ... clinical experience."

The FDA also states that the mailer doesn't reveal risks for patients with certain conditions and did not give precautions about liver toxicity, among other concerns.

Cymbalta, launched in 2004, has become a strong seller for Lilly. It registered $1.3 billion in sales last year, an increase of 94%. In the second quarter this year, only top-seller Zyprexa brought in more revenue than Cymbalta's $519.5 million.

Copyright © 2007 Associated Press

celia088

saluki-

i posted about Cymbalta yesterday and today i received a

pharmaceutical newsletter by email with the same breaking story that you just posted about Cymbalta........yikes!!!!!  These pharma companies are out of control!!!  Thanks for posting the article.

Anonymous

Every time a put a pill in my mouth I wonder what the heck am I doing.  ALL of these pharmaceuticals are poison.  Scares the crap out of me.