What are the differences between Pregabalin vs Gabapentin for nerve pain?

Nerve pain debilitates many individuals and affects their quality of life. For getting relief, most commonly two drugs are popular that are:

Pregabalin and gabapentin. But what separates them, and which one is best for your pain? Come with us as we try to make sense of these treatments and help you find the one that works best for you.

What is Nerve Pain?

Nerve pain is also known as neuropathic pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia. It is a chronic pain that was develops when the nervous system is damaged and not working properly due to injury. For some reason, pain feel different from other kinds of pain. Neuropathic pain lasts for a long time as well.

Nerve pain (neuropathic pain)

Nerve pain, also called neuropathic pain, is an example of longer pain. It is caused by damage to a nerve or a problem in the nervous system. When nerves are damaged, a person may feel strange sensations like buzzing, painful sensations like burning or stabbing.

Depending on the situation and type of disease, nerve pain can also feel like an electric shock, a shooting pain, or a stabbing pain.

It can be a sign of a lot of different health problems, like diabetes, shingles, cancer, HIV, traumatic nerve injuries, and stroke.

Causes of Neuropathic Pain:

There are various health conditions can Cause damage to the nerves, which is leading to neuropathic pain are include:

• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Shingles
• Vascular malformations
• Autoimmune conditions

Injuries can damage muscles and tendons or put a lot of pressure on the muscles. This can happen during surgery or as a result of serious spinal cord injury accident. There are certains infections such as shingles, can sometimes damages the nerves and cause neuropathic pain. Sometimes, certain medication can also cause neuropathic pain.

Ingredients of pregabalin and gabapentin

Pregabalin active ingredient is lyrica and Gabapentin contains the active ingredient, gabapentin.

Lyrica and gabapentin are both in a class of medication called anticonvulsants.

What Are Lyrica and Gabapentin Used For?

Many similar disorders are treated with gabapentin and pregabalin, including:

• Diabetic nerve pain
• Nerve pain from a shingles infection
• Nerve pain from a spinal cord injury
• Seizures

Pregabalin can also be used to treat fibromyalgia, and gabapentin is sometime given to women going through menopause to treat restless legs syndrome and hot flashes. As advised by your doctor.

Pregabalin vs. Gabapentin for Nerve Pain

People often get both pregabalin and gabapentin to treat nerve pain from a number of different reasons, such as nerve pain after shingles or nerve pain caused by diabetes. Some studies suggest that pregabalin may be better for nerve pain than gabapentin and have fewer side effect. However, not all studies agree.

There was a new study that found gabapentin worked better than pregabalin for nerve pain from sciatica and had fewer side effects.

See More:  How Pregabalin is used for Managing Body Pain?

Can you take Gabapentin and Lyrica at the same time?

The two drug should not be taken together by most people. This is because pregabalin and gabapentin both are doing the same treatment, making them redundant and raising the risk of side effect.

What Is the Dosage of Lyrica vs Gabapentin?

Before taking dosage, it’s important to know that the right amount of these drug to take depend on why they are being used. In other word, the right amount of Lyrica or Gabapentin to take depend on the type of pain the person is experiencing. Let’s talk about this some more to make sure we understand.

Lyrica Dosage Guidelines:

Handling peripheral neuropathy in diabetics for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, the starting dose is pregalin 50mg three time a day, or pregabalin 150mg daily.

The highest amount that can be taken three times a day (Pregabalin 300mg) is pregabalin 100 mg.

It is advised to raise this maximum dosage (Pregabalin 150mg/day) after a week after the initial dosage.

Gabapentin Dosage Guidelines:

Gabapentin is started at low doses (Gabapentin 100mg to Gabapentin 300mg per day) and then raised by Gabapentin 100 mg to Gabapentin 300 mg every one to three day until it start to work.

On days 1-2, you might take Gabapentin 300mg at night; on days 3–4, you might take Gabapentin 300mg twice a day; on days 5-7, you might take Gabapentin 600mg twice a day; and from day 8 on, you would take Gabapentin 600 mg three time a day.

The normal daily dose that works is between 900 mg and 3600 mg, spread out over three doses. For older people, titration should be done more slowly.

Comparison

When comparing Pregabalin vs Gabapentin for nerve pain management, both medications have similar mechanisms of action and have been shown to be effective in reducing nerve pain. However, there are some differences that may influence your choice of treatment.

Pregabalin is more potent than Gabapentin, meaning a lower dose may be need for the same effect. This can potentially reduce the risk of side effects. Gabapentin has a shorter half-life than Pregabalin, which may require more frequent dosing throughout the day to maintain pain control.

Pregabalin is more expensive than Gabapentin, but it is also available in generic form, which may help lower the cost.

Gabapentin has a higher risk of drug interactions compared to Pregabalin, so it is important to consult with your healthcare provider before starting this medication.

In conclusion,

Both Pregabalin and Gabapentin are valuable options for managing nerve pain, but the choice between the two will depend on individual factors such as cost, side effects, and dosing frequency.

Consult with your healthcare provider to determine the most suitable medication for your specific needs.

When it comes to Pregabalin vs Gabapentin for nerve pain management, the key is to find the right balance between effectiveness and tolerability.

By understanding the differences between these two medications, you can make an informed decision that will help alleviate your nerve pain and improve your quality of life.

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