Lyrica vs. Gabapentin: What You Should Know

If you have certain a kind of nerve pain or seizures, your doctor may suggest treatment with Lyrica or gabapentin.

Both Lyrica and gabapentin are prescribed to treat:

• nerve pain associated with shingles in adults
• focal onset seizures (also known as partial onset seizures) in adults and some children

Lyrica and gabapentin have other uses as well. To learn more, see the “What are Lyrica and gabapentin used for?” section below.

Gabapentin and Lyrica are similar drugs, but they do have some differences. For example, both drugs come as a capsule or liquid solution that you swallow. But gabapentin also comes as a tablet that you swallow.

Keep reading to learn more about the differences between Lyrica and gabapentin.

Note: For more information about these drugs, including details about their uses, see the in-depth articles on Lyrica and gabapentin.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Lyrica and gabapentin.

Is Lyrica stronger than gabapentin?

Not necessarily. Whether Lyrica or gabapentin works better for treating your condition or is “stronger” depends on a few factors. And keep in mind that your body may respond differently to one or both drugs, even though the two drugs are very similar.

One key difference is that Lyrica is absorbed and begins to work more quickly than gabapentin. But this doesn’t mean Lyrica is stronger than gabapentin.

You should not take more Lyrica or gabapentin than prescribed, even if your symptoms aren’t going away with treatment. Taking more than you’re prescribed can raise your risk of side effects, including serious side effects such as trouble breathing.

If you have questions about whether Lyrica or gabapentin may be more effective at treating your condition, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How will my doctor determine whether Lyrica or gabapentin is better for me?

To determine whether Lyrica or gabapentin is a better option for you, your doctor will consider several factors. These include:

• the condition you’re taking the medication to treat
• other conditions you may have
• side effects you may have experienced from taking Lyrica or gabapentin
• your insurance coverage (if you have it)

To learn about how well these drugs work, see the “How effective are Lyrica and gabapentin?” section below. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether gabapentin or Lyrica may be right for you.

Lyrica and gabapentin are both used to treat these conditions in adults:

• nerve pain associated with shingles
• partial onset seizures (a kind of seizure where abnormal electrical activity affects only a part of your brain)*

In addition, Lyrica is also prescribed to treat the following conditions in adults:

• fibromyalgia, a long-term (chronic) condition that causes pain, fatigue (low energy), and tenderness, among other symptoms
• nerve pain associated with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy)
• nerve pain due to a spinal cord injury

* For this use, Lyrica and gabapentin are both used with other drugs to treat your condition.

Lyrica or gabapentin and children

Lyrica and gabapentin are prescribed to treat partial onset seizures in certain children. Lyrica is used for this condition in children ages 1 month and older, and gabapentin is used in children ages 3 years and older.

Both Lyrica and gabapentin should be used with other medications for treating epilepsy in children. Your child’s doctor can provide more information on how Lyrica and gabapentin would fit into your child’s epilepsy treatment plan.

Like most drugs, Lyrica and gabapentin can cause mild or serious side effects. The tables below include some side effects you may experience from taking either medication.

For more information about possible side effects, see the side effect articles on Lyrica and gabapentin.

Mild side effects

Lyrica and gabapentin may cause mild side effects in some people. Mild side effects that have been reported with each of these drugs in separate studies include:

• vision problems
• trouble concentrating
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• fatigue (low energy)
• nausea and vomiting
• problems with balance and coordination
• sleepiness
• swelling in your hands or feet
• trouble speaking
• weight gain

This list may not include all mild side effects of these drugs. For more information on mild side effects of the two drugs, see the Lyrica prescribing information and gabapentin prescribing information.

Serious side effects

In addition to the mild side effects described above, serious side effects may occur in some people taking Lyrica or gabapentin. See the table below for a list of side effects that have been reported with these drugs.

Here’s an overview of dosages and how you’ll take Lyrica and gabapentin for the conditions they treat.

With either of these drugs, your doctor will likely have you begin treatment with a lower dosage. Then they’ll adjust your dosage over time to reach the amount that’s right for you.

To learn more about the dosages of these drugs, see these articles on Lyrica and gabapentin.

Dosage for nerve pain associated with shingles

Dosage for partial onset seizures

You may wonder whether Lyrica and gabapentin are available in other versions.

Lyrica is a brand-name drug that’s also available as a generic. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Gabapentin is a generic drug that’s also available as a brand-name drug.

To find out whether Lyrica or gabapentin is available in other versions, see the lists below.

• Lyrica*:
  • Available as a generic: Yes
  • Active ingredient: pregabalin

• Gabapentin:
  • Available as a brand-name drug: Yes
    • Brand-name versions: Gralise, Horizant, and Neurontin

If you’ve been prescribed Lyrica or gabapentin and are interested in taking another version instead, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* Lyrica is also available in another form called Lyrica CR. But this form does not treat all of the same conditions as Lyrica and works differently in your body.

You may wonder whether Lyrica and gabapentin are effective at treating your condition.

Both Lyrica and gabapentin are used to treat nerve pain associated with shingles in adults. Guidelines from the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend both Lyrica and gabapentin as treatment options for this condition.

Studies have also shown both Lyrica and gabapentin to be effective for treating partial onset seizures in adults and some children, when used with other seizure medications. If you’d like to read more about how each drug performed in studies, see the prescribing information for Lyrica and gabapentin.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering these drugs. To find out how much you may pay for these drugs, visit Optum Perks for price estimates of Lyrica and gabapentin. But keep in mind that what you’ll pay for either drug will depend on your treatment plan, health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Lyrica is a brand-name drug that’s also available as a generic. Gabapentin is a generic drug that is also available as a brand-name drug. You’ll usually pay more for brand-name drugs than for generics. If you’re interested in taking the generic or branded form of either drug, talk with your doctor.

For other resources that might help you save on the price of these drugs, see the cost articles for Lyrica and gabapentin.

Lyrica and gabapentin may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These may be referred to as warnings. The two drugs share some of the same warnings, but they also have different ones. Some of these warnings are mentioned below.

Before taking Lyrica or gabapentin, talk with your doctor if any of the following conditions or health factors apply to you.

• Warnings for Lyrica:
  • if you have bleeding problems
  • if you have heart problems
  • if you‘ve misused drugs or alcohol before
• Warnings for gabapentin:
  • if you have diabetes
• Warnings for both Lyrica and gabapentin:
  • if you’ve had an allergic reaction to either drug or any of its ingredients
  • if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant
  • if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
  • if you have breathing problems
  • if you have depression or another mental health condition
  • if you have kidney problems
  • if you’ve had suicidal thoughts or behaviors before

To learn more about these drugs, see the in-depth articles on Lyrica and gabapentin.

The short answer: It’s possible.

Details: Lyrica and gabapentin are both used to treat nerve pain associated with shingles in adults. Both medications are also used with other epilepsy drugs to treat partial onset seizures in adults and certain children.

If you’re prescribed Lyrica or gabapentin for one of these uses, it may be possible to switch to the other drug. If your doctor agrees that it’s safe for you to switch from Lyrica or gabapentin or vice versa, they will advise you on how to safely switch from one to the other. For example, they may slowly lower your dose over time. This helps prevent withdrawal symptoms (side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on).

Your doctor can provide more information about how they’ll change your treatment plan.

Reminder: You should not switch drugs or stop your current treatment unless your doctor recommends it. If you’re prescribed Lyrica or gabapentin and would like to learn more about whether you can switch to the other drug, talk with your doctor.

If you still have questions about how Lyrica and gabapentin compare, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether one of these drugs is right for treating your condition.

Some example questions to help get you started include:

• How will I know if Lyrica or gabapentin works better for me? Is it important that I try both medications?
• If my insurance coverage changes, would it make sense to switch from one drug to the other?
• If I have side effects from Lyrica or gabapentin, should I try taking the other medication instead?

To learn more about Lyrica, see these articles:

• Lyrica (pregabalin)
• Side Effects of Lyrica: What You Need to Know
• All About Lyrica’s Dosage
• Lyrica Interactions: Alcohol, Medications, and Others

And for more information on gabapentin, see these articles:

• Gabapentin, Oral Capsule
• Side Effects of Gabapentin
• Gabapentin and Cost: What You Need to Know
• Gabapentin for Migraine Prevention

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Disclaimer: Healthline 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. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.