SUFFERING FROM AN AGRESSIVE NEUROPATHY TAKING GABAPENTIN UP TO 2500 MG DUE TO SIDE EFFECTS SHOULD I CONSIDER LYRICA?

Posted on Sat, 21 Jul 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 21 Jul 2018 Answered on

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 Last reviewed on

Question : DR. I'M A SINGER ,I SUFFER FROM AN AGRESSIVE NEUROPATHY PAIN ,I'VE BEEN TAKING GABAPENTIN UP TO 2500 MG.A DAY AND AMONG OTHER THINGS , I HAS EPERIENCED A DIFFICULTY IN MY SINGING ABILITY , SO I LOWER THE MED DOWN TO 1500 MG , BUT STILL THE SIDE EFFECTS PERSIST , AND ALSO THE PAIN , I WAS CONSIDERING LYRICA , WOULD IT BE OF ANY IMPROVEMENT FOR MY VOICE ? , I'M DESPERATE ! QUESTION : WOULD I BE ABLE TO CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION ONCE I ACCEPT THE MONTHLY PAYMENT YOU ASK FOR ??

Answered by Dr. Shinas Hussain (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Pregabalin has got similar side effects as gabapentin. consider tramadol

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
Lyrica is a brand name of “pregabalin” and it is more or less similar to gabapentin and side effects are also similar.
You can consider other analgesics like tramadol. which is quite effective and side effects are minimal and it can be used for long term. Tramdol is generally used for neuropathic pain and it doesn’t cause any change in your voice also.
Other choices are ibuprofen which is quite effective.
You can cancel the subscription at any time.
Wishing you good health.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Shinas Hussain (5 hours later)

I KNOW I'M FAMILIAR WITH TRAMADOL AND IBUPROFEN , BUT REMEMBER I HAD A STROKE , AND MY NEUROLOGYST WONT LET ME USE ANY OF THOSE FOR THE INTERACTION WITH THE MED I'M TAKING FOR THAT CONDITION , IF YOU THINK THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE PLEASE LET ME KNOW . THANKS

Answered by Dr. Shinas Hussain (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Tramadol is the best option

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the followup.
The stroke might have caused weakness and affected your singing ability.
Tramadol is a safe drug and doesn't interact with your routine drug and it is one of the commonly prescribed analgesic for CVA patient. You can try tramadol+ paracetamol combination.
Other optionsa are sumatriptan (generally used for migraine related pain) and amitryptilline.
My personalopinion is to go wityh tramadol, discuss with your neuroogist regarding tramadol.
Wishing you good health.
thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Shinas Hussain (3 hours later)

NO DR. IT WASN'T LIKE THAT , MY STROKE WAS 6 AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND AFTER MY RECUP I CONTINUED SINGING WITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL , I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS NOW WITH THE USE OF GABAPANTIN ( IT SAYS SO IN THE SIDE EFFECTS LIST 0, EVEN I WAS IN A WHEEL CHAIR FOR ALMOST A YEAR BACK THEN AND I WAS SINGING !!!! THE PROBLEM WITH MY NEUROLOGIST'S OPINION IS BEACAUSE HE SAYS THAT PAIN KILLERS INTERACT WITH THE MED I'M TAKING , I 'M NOT SURE BUT I THINK IT IS SOMETHING LIKE AZILEC OR ASILECT , WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME FOR THIS AND IS KIND OF DIFFICULT FOR ME TO FIND YOUR ANSWERS IN MY COMPUTER , WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WHOLE THING ? THANK YOU !

Answered by Dr. Shinas Hussain (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You can try coxibs

Detailed Answer:
Now the issues are clear!!
you could've mentioned about azilect earlier!!
Azilect is a brand name of "rasagiline". Rasagiline will interact with many drugs including opiod analgesics like tramadol and to gabapentine related drugs. Even tylenol is not safe for you.
You can then try drugs like "etoricoxib" and "celecoxib".
Sumatriptan is also safe for you.
Hope I have answered your query

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Shinas Hussain (10 hours later)

YES ,VERY CLEAR , THE THING WAS THAT IN THE LIST OF MEDS I HAVE, THAT ONE IS NOT INCLUDED ( AZILECT ) THANK GOD I REMEMBERED. AND IT CAME AS A XXXXXXX TO ME, THE FACT THAT GABAPENTIN AND RELATED DRUGS ,INCLUDED TAYLENOL ARE ALSO BAD FOR ME , BECAUSE THE NEUROLOGIST THAT TAKES CARE OF ME SAYS TOTALLY THE OPPOSITE, I LOOKED UP IN WEB MD ,THE COXIBS AND THE SIDE EFFECTS DON'T LOOK SO GOOD EITHER ,AND ALSO SUMATRIPTAN AS WELL, I BELIEVE THAT ALL MEDS HAVE SIDE EFFECTS , THE PATIENT IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE DIFFERENCE !!! I GUESS I HAVE TO TAKE THAT RISK AND YES SIR YOU ANSWERED MY QUERY VERY WELL !! THANK YOU SO MUCH .

Follow up: Dr. Shinas Hussain (12 minutes later)

ANOTHER IMPORTANT QUESTION IS : CAN I STOP THE GABAPENTIN ALL OF A SUDDEN TO START TAKING ANY OTHER MED ??

Answered by Dr. Shinas Hussain (19 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You can stop gaba at any time

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You can stop gabapentin all of a sudden. It doesn’t have any withdrawal effects.
Coxibs may be the best option for you considering risk benefit ratio.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad