Re: Neurontin (New Drug)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I take Neurontin for HA. I've been on it for a couple of months. It

takes a long time to work. It is beginning to decrease my HA. The only

issue I have with it is that it makes me dopey if I take two at a time

so I'm taking it 4 times a day, but sometimes I forget a dose.

However, the return of my HA is a good reminder. I have been able to

decrease the inderal I was taking to control my HA. Not sure if I'll

stay on it or try something else at this point. Maybe Lyrica!

Below is info from a doc and from a medication site about neurontin &

Lyrica. They seem to be similar but different. Hope this is helpful.

I'm a psychiatric nurse and I tried to cut the material down but some

of it was over my head. I submit this as a fellow sufferer, not as a

professional. Please look for further info on-line for the true &

complete scoop.

New Drug Approval for Treatment of Fibromyalgia

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/stevepocetamd/new-drug-approval-for-5264

Posted on 08:59AM (EDT) on 2007-06-25

Lyrica ...has been approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia ...

Yes, you are reading SleepExpert blog, but fibromyalgia and Lyrica are

two things I know a little about. Patients with fibromyalgia are

famous for sleep problems, so I try to help with that. Lyrica has

been around for a couple of years for the treatment of seizures and

for the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. I have

used it with variable success in patients who have restless legs

syndrome (RLS), as have others, and some of the talk on the RLS forums

is about Lyrica.

Lyrica works in a way similar to Neurontin, generic name gabapentin.

Like Lyrica, Neurontin is also an anticonvulsant with pain modulating

properties and is useful in RLS. One of the problems with Neurontin

has been its erratic absorption from the gut, so predicting blood

levels is difficult. Some people only need 100 or 200 mg, whereas

others seem to need 4000 mg....

These drugs are not analgesic ... but they are particularly good for

" nerve generated " pain. They are known as " neuronal membrane

stabilizing agents " and are useful for epilepsy, pain, migraine

headaches, bipolar affective disorder, and anxiety. They seem to

stabilize excessive neuronal firing but without sedation.

Patients with fibromyalgia have non-restorative sleep and (probably)

an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) during sleep.... The EEG shows

increased alpha waves (faster, waking activity) during the delta

(slower, sleeping) waves of normal deep sleep. Very few medicines can

actually increase the depth of sleep or take away the " alpha-delta "

sleep of fibromyalgia. But studies with Lyrica in fibromyalgia

patients have shown that sleep quality is improved as well as the

bodily pain. It will be useful for many patients with fibromyalgia.

J. Poceta MD is a licensed practitioner of neurology and sleep

disorders who has been engaged by Revolution Health. No information in

this blog is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The opinions

expressed here are Dr. Poceta's own and do not necessarily reflect

those of Revolution Health.

Neurontin® (gabapentin)

Gabapentin is described as 1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid

USES:

Approved

Postherpetic Neuralgia

Epilepsy

Other Common Uses by MD's:

Mood Stabilizer for Bipolar disorder & depression

Pain related to nerves (back, HA, etc.)

Take: with or without food.

Tabs broken in half should be used within several days of

breaking.

Reduction or Discontinuation of Medicine: done gradually over a

minimum of 1 week (a longer period may be needed at the

discretion of the prescriber).

Mechanism of Action:

In Pain: unknown,but it seems to decrease pain related responses.

Anticonvulsant action: unknown)

Gabapentin is structurally related to the neurotransmitter GABA

(gamma-aminobutyric acid) but does not modify GABA or become

GABA, nor is it used by the body as GABA. Neither does

gabapentin alter the cellular uptake of dopamine,

noradrenaline, or serotonin.

Rats have a gabapentin binding site in areas of the neocortex

and hippocampus. There may be some connection with calcium

channels in rats.

Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism

All pharmacological actions following gabapentin administration

are due to the activity of the parent compound; gabapentin is not

appreciably metabolized in humans.

Lyrica

pregabalin is a structural derivative of the inhibitory

neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

USES:

Neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Postherpetic neuralgia

Adjunctive therapy (adults)for partial onset seizures

Management of fibromyalgia

Tips: take orally with or without food.

Discontinuing: taper gradually over a minimum of 1 week.

Mechanism of Action: Unknown, but Lyrica (prebalin) binds with high

affinity to the alpha2-delta site (an auxiliary subunit of

voltage-gated calcium channels) in central nervous system tissues.

In vitro, pregabalin reduces the calcium-dependent release of several

neurotransmitters, possibly by modulation of calcium channel function.

In cultured neurons prolonged application of pregabalin increases the

density of GABA transporter protein and increases the rate of

functional GABA transport. It is inactive at serotonin and dopamine

receptors and does not inhibit dopamine, serotonin, or noradrenaline

reuptake.