Just had a discussion on the ward today with a psychiatrist colleague who says he sees better results with lyrica for diabetic neuropathic pain when compared to neurontin for his patients and the consults he does in the hospital. anecdotal, but worth some consideration.
aj
BTW the discussion was in the context of severe neuropathic pain associated with one of my patients who had viral nerve damage in addition to double BKA's in the same month because of poorly managed diabetic infection of the foot. By the time I was consulted by the internist, the patient was on 4 mg of dilaudid 10 minutes before each dressing change because of the severe pain (with no real impact; the patient screamed so loudly that the entire floor was getting upset). I recommended 10mg Zydis at the same time and his pain became tolerable and without the typical zydis SE's of severe sedation.
JM2C for the many physicians out there who haven't given that alternative a try when you've run out of others.