Is gabapentin the same as lyrica
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Gabapentin vs. Lyrica: Understanding the Differences and Similarities
Introduction to Gabapentin and Lyrica
Gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) are two widely used medications primarily known for their roles in treating neuropathic pain and seizures. Both drugs are synthetic analogs of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) but do not act on GABA receptors. Instead, they bind to the alpha2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, which helps reduce neurotransmitter release and neuronal excitability1 3 5.
Mechanism of Action: Calcium Channel Binding
Both gabapentin and pregabalin work by binding to the alpha2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. This binding reduces the release of excitatory neurotransmitters, thereby decreasing neuronal excitability and providing analgesic and anticonvulsant effects3 5 6. Despite their structural similarities, pregabalin is considered more potent than gabapentin1.
Clinical Uses and Efficacy
Neuropathic Pain and Seizures
Gabapentin was initially approved by the FDA in 1994 for the adjunctive treatment of seizure disorders. Pregabalin, approved a decade later, is used for partial onset seizures, diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and fibromyalgia1. Both drugs have shown efficacy in treating chronic pain conditions and have been used off-label for various other types of pain1 2.
Anxiety Disorders
Pregabalin has also been approved in Europe for the treatment of anxiety disorders, a use not shared by gabapentin6. Studies have shown that pregabalin can help reduce the use of benzodiazepines in psychiatric patients, indicating its potential anxiolytic effects4.
Pharmacokinetics and Potency
Pregabalin is generally considered more potent than gabapentin, which means it can be effective at lower doses1. This increased potency is one reason why pregabalin is often preferred in clinical settings despite its higher cost1.
Cost Considerations
One of the primary differences between gabapentin and pregabalin is their cost. Gabapentin is available in generic form and is significantly cheaper than pregabalin, which does not yet have a generic version1. This cost difference can be a deciding factor for many patients and healthcare providers.
Combined Use for Enhanced Pain Control
Interestingly, gabapentin and pregabalin can be used together to achieve a synergistic effect in pain control. This combination can reduce the required dose of each drug, potentially minimizing side effects while enhancing therapeutic outcomes2.
Conclusion
While gabapentin and pregabalin share many similarities in their mechanisms of action and clinical uses, they are not the same. Pregabalin is more potent, has additional approvals for anxiety disorders, and is more expensive than gabapentin. Both drugs are valuable tools in the management of neuropathic pain and seizures, and their combined use can offer enhanced pain control. Understanding these differences can help in making informed decisions about their use in clinical practice.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Use of gabapentin and pregabalin for hand surgery patients.
Pregabalin is more potent and expensive than gabapentin, but both medications can effectively treat acute postoperative and chronic neuropathic pain in hand surgery patients.
Is there a role for combined use of gabapentin and pregabalin in pain control? Too good to be true?
Combining gabapentin and pregabalin shows potential in pain control, reducing doses and side effects while enhancing therapeutic response.
Mechanisms of analgesia by gabapentin and pregabalin – Calcium channel α2-δ [Cavα2-δ] ligands
Gabapentin and pregabalin reduce chronic pain by binding to calcium channel alpha2-delta proteins, not GABAergic, and reducing stimulated transmitter release.
Very Rigorous Journal
Highly CitedDoes Pregabalin (Lyrica(®) ) help patients reduce their use of benzodiazepines? A comparison with gabapentin using the Norwegian Prescription Database.
Pregabalin can help some patients significantly reduce their use of benzodiazepines, with psychiatric patients able to reduce their benzodiazepine use by 48% after starting pregabalin treatment.
Observational StudyAnalgesia with Gabapentin and Pregabalin May Involve N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptors, Neurexins, and Thrombospondins
Gabapentin and pregabalin's analgesic effects may involve interactions with N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, neurexin-1, and thrombospondins, in addition to voltage-gated calcium channels.
Pharmacology and mechanism of action of pregabalin: The calcium channel α2–δ (alpha2–delta) subunit as a target for antiepileptic drug discovery
Pregabalin reduces neuronal excitability and seizures by binding to the alpha2–delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, potentially through reduced neurotransmitter release.
Highly CitedPharmacology and mechanism of action of pregabalin: the calcium channel alpha2-delta (alpha2-delta) subunit as a target for antiepileptic drug discovery.
Pregabalin reduces neuronal excitability and seizures by binding to alpha2-delta subunits in calcium channels, potentially through reduced neurotransmitter release.
Highly CitedIdentification of the alpha2-delta-1 subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels as a molecular target for pain mediating the analgesic actions of pregabalin.
Pregabalin's analgesic effects are mediated through the alpha2-delta-1 subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels, making it a potential therapeutic target for pain control.
Highly CitedDrugging the undruggable: gabapentin, pregabalin and the calcium channel α2δ subunit
Using the sequence of a protein to predict other "druggable" proteins can lead to the development of new drugs with similar activities to existing ones, such as gabapentin and pregabalin.
Ca2+ channel α2δ ligands: novel modulators of neurotransmission
Ca2+ channel 2 ligands, such as gabapentin and pregabalin, effectively reduce excessive neurotransmitter release in various neurological and psychiatric disorders by binding to the 2 subunit of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels.
Highly Cited