Pregabalin, which is considered a type of antiepileptic drug, is believed to work for fibromyalgia by impacting neurotransmitters brain chemicals that play a role in pain perception.
This drug is also used to treat seizures and neuropathic pain. Possible side effects include swelling of the throat, head, and neck, which can be life-threatening. Some people also break out in hives or experience wheezing. Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts, but inactive ingredients may vary. In order to receive FDA approval, the manufacturer of a generic drug must prove that their product works as well as the original product.
Many pharmacies will automatically dispense the generic version of a medication unless the provider writing the prescription specifically directs them to only use the brand name version. If you wish to stay with the brand name version of pregabalin or any medication, your doctor should indicate that on the prescription and it will probably end up costing you more, depending on your insurance. Learn more and sign up here.
Tags: Fibromyalgia. CreakyJoints is a digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research. Therefore, alcohol should be avoided when taking Horizant due to increased risk of side effects. Like standard formulations of gabapentin, Gralise and Horizant are not metabolized to an appreciable extent by phase I metabolism, and they are neither a substrate nor an inhibitor of p-glycoprotein.
All forms of gabapentin must be adjusted in renal dysfunction, similar to standard formulations. One review found that these extended-release formulations have similar efficacy to standard ones, and they might also have fewer adverse events. Both pregabalin and gabapentin are well tolerated. With both drugs, side effects are dose dependent and reversible if the medication is discontinued. When discontinuing gabapentin it is recommended to taper the dose over a week at least. Gabapentin and pregabalin vary in terms of binding affinity and potency.
Pregabalin has an increased binding affinity for the alphadelta protein and is a more potent analgesic in neuropathic pain compared with gabapentin. One study developed a population pharmacokinetic model comparing pregabalin with gabapentin. Based on studies of gabapentin and pregabalin in epilepsy, the EC50 values of pregabalin and gabapentin were estimated to be about 9. Using studies in postherpetic neuralgia, the EC50 values of pregabalin and gabapentin were estimated to be about 4. Based on these values, pregabalin was estimated to be about 2.
One study analyzed data from phase 2 trials of gabapentin and pregabalin and created a pharmacodynamic model. Pregabalin also exhibited a steeper dose-response curve than gabapentin. For clinicians who wish to convert patients from gabapentin to pregabalin, there are a few studies that reviewed such a conversion. One cohort study reviewed the utility of switching patients with neuropathic pain due to peripheral neuropathy from gabapentin to pregabalin.
The authors also stratified the pregabalin group further into those who responded well or poorly to gabapentin, with gabapentin stopped after the nighttime dose and pregabalin started the following morning. The authors found that those who responded well to gabapentin and those who did not showed additional benefit with decreased pain when they were switched to pregabalin.
Patients taking pregabalin also had improved pain control compared with those who remained on gabapentin. Switching to pregabalin resulted in improved pain relief and also fewer adverse events. This was particularly true for patients who previously responded to gabapentin. Patients who experienced adverse events with gabapentin were more likely to also experience adverse events with pregabalin.
These patients were also more likely to discontinue use of pregabalin than those who responded well to both gabapentin and pregabalin. Another small trial compared the degree of pain relief with gabapentin to pregabalin in patients with postherpetic neuralgia in order to more closely determine equivalent dosing between the 2 medications. Patients were switched from gabapentin to pregabalin using one-sixth the dose of gabapentin with unchanged dosage frequency.
After switching medications, patients reported similar pain relief and side effects, with the exception of an increased incidence of peripheral edema in the pregabalin group. The authors concluded that the analgesic effect of pregabalin was about 6 times that of gabapentin. Other studies have looked at methods for converting gabapentin to pregabalin. One such trial used population pharmacokinetic models to examine 2 possible scenarios for converting gabapentin to pregabalin, using a ratio of gabapentin to pregabalin.
The first scenario involved discontinuing gabapentin and immediately starting pregabalin at the next scheduled dosing period. The other option included a gradual transition from gabapentin to pregabalin. After this time, gabapentin was discontinued and pregabalin was increased to full desired dose. How much Lyrica and gabapentin cost depends on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes, your insurance plan, and your pharmacy.
You can find price estimates for these medications on GoodRx. Brand-name medications are often more expensive than generics. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn about the generic form of either drug. Both Lyrica and gabapentin treat partial onset seizures and nerve pain that occurs after shingles. These drugs can cause some of the same side effects, as well as some different ones.
Some of these side effects are mentioned below. For more information about the side effects of the two drugs, see the Lyrica medication guide and the gabapentin drug label. The following lists address some of the most common side effects of each drug and some that both can cause.
Most side effects of Lyrica and gabapentin are mild and go away after using either medication for a few weeks. Be careful with any tasks that require concentration or focus, such as driving, until you become used to the effects of the medication. The following lists address the serious side effects of each drug and those that both drugs can cause. If you have serious side effects while using Lyrica or gabapentin, call your doctor immediately. Note: For more information about mild and serious side effects, see the side effect sections in the Lyrica and gabapentin articles.
There are few studies directly comparing how well Lyrica and gabapentin work. But studies show that both Lyrica and gabapentin are effective for treating partial onset seizures and nerve pain that occurs after shingles. According to guidelines , Lyrica and gabapentin are recommended for treating partial onset seizures. Other guidelines recommend the two drugs as treatments for nerve pain that occurs after shingles.
For information about how the drugs performed in clinical studies, see the Lyrica and gabapentin prescribing information.
Lyrica and gabapentin may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Some are mentioned below. If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Lyrica or gabapentin. Note: For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, visit our Lyrica and gabapentin articles.
Lyrica and gabapentin are used to treat some of the same conditions: partial onset seizures and nerve pain that occurs after shingles. The doctor can also explain the risks and benefits and advise about which may be right for you. For more information about partial onset seizures, see our list of epilepsy articles. To learn more about nerve pain after shingles, see our list of shingles articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional.
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