Gabapentin vs. Pregabalin
Pregabalin and gabapentin are both pharmaceutical drugs functioning as anticonvulsants. Primarily, these two medications are beneficial in treating epileptic seizures and other medical conditions. Even if pregabalin and gabapentin are very similar to one another, they also have their differences. Below are some of them.
Potency and Effectiveness
Aside from treating seizures caused by epilepsy, these two can also be useful in treating other health conditions. For instance, pregabalin is an effective medicine for treating people suffering from neuropathic pain. Furthermore, patients with fibromyalgia can also take pregabalin. Gabapentin, on the other hand, is an effective drug for those who are diagnosed with Restless Legs Syndrome or RLS, and Postherpetic Nueralgia or PHN. Additionally, gabapentin has been found useful in the reduction of narcotic usage during post operation. It can also relieve the pain from neuropathic ache usually felt by patients diagnosed with cancer. Gabapentin also costs much less than pregabalin. The recommended dosage for both gabapentin and pregabalin that will be taken by the patient usually depends on his or her general condition, plus the kind of treatment he or she is currently undertaking.
When comparing pregabalin and gabapentin, potency is one major factor to look into, especially in treating pain and seizure disorders. The main difference between these two medications is that pregabalin tends to show more strength and effectiveness than the gabapentin. This can be because of the rate at which pregabalin is absorbed by the body. Because of the higher potency of pregabalin, a patient would need a lesser amount of this medicine to reach the same level of potency as a larger dosage of gabapentin. Another difference is that usually pregabalin can be absorbed by the body much faster than gabapentin. Because of the fast rate of absorption of pregabalin, it guarantees a more firm and stable ingestion of this medication.
Side Effects
Because pregabalin and gabapentin have the same makeup, it will follow that the side effects that patients may incur from taking one or the other of these medications may be similar, though there can be differences as well. For instance, pregabalin can cause side effects such as problems in balancing, drying of the mouth, and tremors. On certain occasions, these side effects can be experienced as well by a person who is taking gabapentin as his or her medication. Some of the more severe side effects that may occur from using pregabalin are bruising, abnormal bleeding, problems with vision, and lastly, muscle pains. On the other hand, gabapentin can cause headache, blurring of vision, dizziness, or more seriously, the patient can experience abnormalities in urination, rapid eye movement, and frequent seizures.
However, it should be noted that unlike gabapentin, pregabalin can cause less side effects that are specifically dependent on the dosage. This means that gabapentin can yield more side effects to patients. But the side effects that may occur still depend on the specific medical condition of the person.
Summary:
Pregabalin and gabapentin are both pharmaceutical drugs functioning as anticonvulsants. Primarily, these two medications are beneficial in treating epileptic seizures and other medical conditions.
Pregabalin is an effective medicine for treating those suffering from neuropathic pain. Gabapentin, on the other hand, is an effective drug for those who are diagnosed with Restless Legs Syndrome or RLS, and Postherpetic Nueralgia or PHN.
Because pregabalin and gabapentin have the same makeup, it will follow that the side effects that patients may incur from taking one of these medications may be similar, though there can be differences as well. Unlike gabapentin, pregabalin can cause less side effects that are specifically dependent on the dosage.