Is amitriptyline as good as neurontin (gabapentin) for nerve pain?

Depends on diagnosis: Amitriptyline (elavil (amitriptyline) for brand name) is an anti-neuropathic medicine. It is an old generation anti-depressant. Neurontin (gabapentin) is also an anti-neuropathic medicine. Neurontin is also an anti-seizure type medicine. Patients with chronic nerve pain have different reactions to anti-neuropathics. Neurontin seems to have more specificity toward nerve pain.

Yes: They work on different receptors and one might work better for a specific pain or a specific patient. They can also be taken together. If amitriptylene helps but causes too much side effects consider switching to desipramine.