Lyrica is pregabalin, an analog of gabapentin. (By the way, pregabalin is used in dogs as well, so if your dog’s current pain protocol includes gabapentin but isn’t working well enough, ask your veterinarian about pregabalin.) HOW GABAPENTIN IS USED FOR DOGS These include gabapentin, pregabalin, amantadine, and amitriptyline. Proposed mechanisms of action for each drug, and known pharmacokinetic profiles in dogs are discussed. Strong evidence exists in the human literature for the utility of most of these treatments, but clinical veterinary-specific literature is currently limited. Both Lyrica and gabapentin are used as anti-epileptic medications and to treat nerve pain. But there are several differences between them. The main differences between Lyrica and gabapentin are: Lyrica is a brand name for pregabalin. Gabapentin is a generic name - brands of gabapentin include Neurontin, Gralise, and Horizant. Pregabalin (brand name Lyrica®), is an anticonvulsant and neuropathic pain medication. It is used to treat refractory or complex partial seizures and chronic neuropathic (nerve) pain in small animals. Several drugs are commonly used in the veterinary clinical setting to treat neuropathic pain. These include gabapentin, pregabalin, amantadine, and amitriptyline. Proposed mechanisms of action for each drug, and known pharmacokinetic profiles in dogs are discussed. Compared to gabapentin, pregabalin shows: A study in dogs undergoing surgery for intravertebral disc disease and received 4mg/kg of pregabalin twice a day had lower pain scores when compared to dogs that did not receive any (Schmierer et al., 2020). Pregabalin became available as a successor to gabapentin and is also used to control several other neurologic conditions, including neuropathic pain, a type of pain caused by nerves. More recently, pregabalin has been useful to control anxiety in animals, especially when being transported. Key clinical data: Few studies are available for gabapentin, and only case reports are available for pregabalin. Because gabapentin is not a potent analgesic, results are mixed and most studies are based on dosages or dosing intervals lower than those expected to provide an analgesic effect. 14 In 32 dogs with neuropathic pain, gabapentin Gabapentin is extremely safe for dogs, and it has the potential to alleviate pain for our dogs and improve their quality and enjoyment of life. If you’ve been wondering why so many veterinarians are prescribing this medication more and more, there’s your answer. Salazar V, Dewey CW, Schwark W et al (2009) Pharmacokinetics of single-dose oral pregabalin administration in normal dogs. Vet Anaesthesia and analgesia 36 , 574-580 PubMed . Related Articles ated with pain. For example, in dogs at risk of OA, growth should be slowed to minimize the expression of faulty genes, 7 body condition should remain within the optimal range, 8 and exercise should be encouraged as it may be protective for hip dysplasia. 9 Dogs should be acclimated to activities that become part of their long-term man- When it comes to managing nerve pain, seizures, or even anxiety in dogs, medications like Pregabalin and Gabapentin are often prescribed by veterinarians. But which one is better suited for your pet’s needs? Despite undergoing some hepatic metabolism in dogs, there is no appreciable induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes in this species. The t ½ for gabapentin in dogs and cats is between 3 and 4 hrs. The recommended dose range of gabapentin for dogs is 25–60 mg/kg body weight, divided, q 6–8 hrs. I use an initial dose regimen of 10 mg/kg body Anecdotally, pregabalin is also used to treat neuropathic pain in dogs and has exciting potential as a once- or twice-daily drug with minimal side effects, at doses much lower than that tested in this study. Pregabalin seems to be well absorbed after oral administration in dogs and can reach serum levels shown to be effective in humans with neuropathic pain. The longer half-life suggests that a dosing schedule of every 12 hours may be appropriate in cats, which is an advantage compared with gabapentin. Yes, dogs can often take gabapentin with other medications, but it’s crucial to approach this practice with informed caution and under the strict guidance of a veterinarian. Gabapentin is frequently used in veterinary medicine to manage pain, seizures, and anxiety in dogs. One of the best uses of gabapentin is as a pre-visit pharmaceutical, along with trazodone, to reduce anxiety and stress associated veterinary visits. Pregabalin is similar to gabapentin in that it blocks the release of neurotransmitters. Several case reports note analgesia when gabapentin was used for treatment of chronic pain. 14,15 And in a clinical study on postoperative pain in dogs undergoing mastectomy, although pain scores did not differ, dogs receiving NSAIDs plus gabapentin required fewer opioid rescue doses than dogs receiving NSAIDs alone; thus, the gabapentin did Pregabalin is structurally similar to gabapentin but has higher oral bioavailability and a longer half-life (42, 50). In a single-dose pharmacokinetic study performed in normal dogs, a dose of 4 mg/kg produced plasma drug concentrations within the predicted therapeutic range extrapolated from the human literature ( 50 ). Gabapentin for dogs is commonly prescribed for pain, anxiety, or seizures. It's generally safe, but there are some known side effects to be aware of.
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