Gabapentin is an anti-epileptic medication, also called an anticonvulsant. It affects chemicals and nerves in the body that are involved in the cause of seizures and some types of pain.Gabapentin is used in adults to treat nerve pain caused by herpes virus or shingles (herpes zoster).
The Horizant brand of gabapentin is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS).The Neurontin brand of gabapentin is also used to treatseizures in adults and children who are at least 3 years old.
Gabapentin is also be used to treat following health conditions:
Alcohol Withdrawal
Anxiety
Benign Essential Tremor
Bipolar Disorder
Burning Mouth Syndrome
Cluster-Tic Syndrome
Cough
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Epilepsy
Erythromelalgia
Fibromyalgia
Hiccups
Hot Flashes
Hyperhidrosis
Insomnia
Lhermitte’s Sign
Migraine
Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced
Neuropathic Pain
Occipital Neuralgia
Pain
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
Peripheral Neuropathy
Postherpetic Neuralgia
Postmenopausal Symptoms
Pruritus
Pudendal Neuralgia
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
Restless Legs Syndrome
Small Fiber Neuropathy
Spondylolisthesis
Syringomyelia
Transverse Myelitis
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Vulvodynia
Gabapentin is a medication primarily used to treat epilepsy (seizure disorders) and neuropathic pain (pain caused by nerve damage). However, it has also been prescribed for several other health conditions off-label, meaning its use for these conditions is not FDA-approved but may be prescribed by healthcare providers based on clinical judgment and evidence.
Some of the health conditions for which gabapentin may be prescribed off-label include:
Chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia
Postherpetic neuralgia (nerve pain following shingles)
Pruritus (itching) associated with various conditions
It’s important to note that while gabapentin may be effective for some of these conditions, its off-label use should be carefully considered by healthcare providers, and the risks and benefits should be discussed with the patient. Additionally, individual responses to gabapentin can vary, and not everyone may experience the same level of benefit or may experience side effects.
The Neurontin brand of gabapentin can be taken with or without food.
If you’ve been prescribed gabapentin, here are some tips to consider for safe and effective usage:
Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions: Always take gabapentin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not alter the dosage or frequency without consulting them first.
Take with or without Food: Gabapentin can be taken with or without food. However, consistency in how you take it (with food or without) is recommended to maintain consistent blood levels.
Swallow Whole: Swallow the gabapentin capsule or tablet whole with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablets, as this can alter the way the medication is released into your system.
Stick to the Schedule: Try to take gabapentin at the same times each day to help you remember and maintain consistent levels of the medication in your bloodstream.
Do Not Stop Abruptly: If you need to discontinue gabapentin, consult your doctor for guidance on how to gradually reduce your dosage over time. Suddenly stopping gabapentin can lead to withdrawal symptoms or a return of your original condition.
Monitor Side Effects: Pay attention to any side effects you may experience while taking gabapentin and report them to your doctor. Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, and coordination problems.
Avoid Alcohol and CNS Depressants: Gabapentin can enhance the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, increasing the risk of drowsiness and impairment. Avoid alcohol and discuss with your doctor any other medications or substances you’re taking.
Be Cautious with Driving and Machinery: Gabapentin may cause dizziness and drowsiness, which can impair your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Exercise caution until you know how gabapentin affects you.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help alleviate some potential side effects of gabapentin, such as constipation.
Store Properly: Store gabapentin at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep it out of reach of children and pets.
If you break a 600mg or 800mg Neurontin tablet in half, be sure to take the other half at your next dose or within 28 days.
The Gralise brand of gabapentin cannot be substituted for other gabapentin products due to differing administration requirements (once daily versus three times daily for other products).
Gralise should be taken with food at the evening meal. Gralise tablets should be swallowed whole; do not cut, crush, or chew.
Horizant (gabapentin enacarbil) tablets should be swallowed whole and taken with food. For restless leg syndrome, take at roughly 5 PM in the evening. Do not cut, crush, or chew the tablet. Do not interchange Horizant with other gabapentin products.
Use a manufacturer-provided or pharmacist-provided measuring cup calibrated for liquid formulations when measuring liquid doses of gabapentin. Do not use a kitchen measuring device or teaspoon because these may be inaccurate.
For dosage schedules of three times daily do not allow more than 12 hours between doses.
Monitor for mood changes and report any evidence of new or worsening mood or depression to the prescribing doctor.
Do not take gabapentin at the same time as antacids such as Maalox or Gaviscon. Separate administration by at least two hours. Take exactly as directed by your doctor, do not increase or decrease the dose without his or her advice.
Avoid operating machinery, driving, or performing tasks that require mental alertness if gabapentin makes your drowsy or impairs your judgment.
The side effects of gabapentin, such as dizziness or drowsiness, may increase your risk of falling. Remove any fall hazards from your home if possible (such as loose rugs), and be careful when ascending or descending stairs.
Talk to your doctor if you experience any worsening of your mood or if you develop any suicidal thoughts.
Do not stop taking gabapentin without your doctor’s advice as it may precipitate a withdrawal reaction (symptoms include agitation, disorientation, confusion). When the time comes to discontinue gabapentin your doctor will tell you how to taper it off.
Seek urgent medical advice if you develop a rash, fever, difficulty breathing or facial swelling while taking gabapentin.
Yes, gabapentin can cause problems, especially if it is not used as directed or if certain precautions are not followed.
Some potential issues associated with gabapentin use include:
Side Effects: Common side effects of gabapentin include dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, coordination problems, blurred vision, and weight gain. These side effects are usually mild to moderate and often improve over time. However, some individuals may experience more severe or persistent side effects.
Dependency and Withdrawal: Although gabapentin is not considered a controlled substance, there have been reports of dependence and withdrawal symptoms, especially in individuals who misuse or abuse the medication. Withdrawal symptoms may include anxiety, insomnia, nausea, sweating, and flu-like symptoms.
Interaction with Other Medications: Gabapentin can interact with certain medications, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and other central nervous system depressants. Combining gabapentin with these substances can increase the risk of sedation, respiratory depression, and overdose.
Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior: Gabapentin and other antiepileptic drugs have been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Patients taking gabapentin should be closely monitored for changes in mood, behavior, or suicidal ideation, especially when starting or changing the dose of the medication.
Allergic Reactions: Some individuals may experience allergic reactions to gabapentin, which can manifest as rash, itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing. In rare cases, severe allergic reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis may occur, which require immediate medical attention.
Renal Impairment: Gabapentin is primarily eliminated from the body through the kidneys. Therefore, individuals with impaired kidney function may require dose adjustments or closer monitoring to prevent accumulation of the medication and potential toxicity.
Cognitive Impairment: Some individuals may experience cognitive impairment, memory problems, or confusion while taking gabapentin, especially at higher doses or in combination with other medications.
Side Effects of Gabapentin
Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them.
The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with gabapentin.
You will find a full list in the manufacturer’s information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.
Common gabapentin side-effects
What can I do if I experience this?
Feeling sleepy, tired, unsteady or dizzy; blurred vision and other eyesight problems
Do not drive or use tools or machines
Headache
Ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable painkiller
Feeling or being sick, indigestion, stomach ache
Stick to simple foods – avoid rich or spicy meals
Diarrhoea
Drink plenty of water to replace the lost fluids
Constipation
Try to eat a well-balanced diet and drink several glasses of water each day
Dry mouth
Try chewing sugar-free gum or sucking sugar-free sweets
Infections, flu-like symptoms, increased appetite, flushing,
increased blood pressure, changes in weight, changes in emotions or mood, fits, movement difficulties, feeling shaky, difficulties sleeping, breathing difficulties, cough, gum changes, bruises, muscle or joint pains, impotence, and swollen feet or ankles
If any of these become troublesome, speak with your doctor for advice
Important: gabapentin has been associated with a number of unwanted effects which affect the blood, pancreas and liver.
Although these occur less commonly than the side-effects listed above, you must let your doctor know straightaway if you notice any of the following as they could be serious:
Persistent stomach pain with sickness (these could be symptoms of an inflamed pancreas).
A skin rash, or any swelling of your mouth or face (these could be symptoms of an allergic reaction).
Any yellowing of your skin or of the whites of your eyes (these could be symptoms of jaundice).
Any unusual bruising or bleeding (these could be symptoms of a blood disorder).
If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.
You can buy Neurontin at any drug store, if you have a prescription. But if you want to save your money, the best variant for you is to buy Neurontin or generic Neurontin (Gabapentin) from an online pharmacy
Neurontin is a trade mark that is owned by Pfizer company.
Gabapentin is also manufactured and marketed by other pharmaceutical companies all over the world. However it can not be marketed under the brand name Neurontin, so you can find many other medicines having absolutely the same compound, effect and safety level as Neurontin, some of those medicines are: Fanatrex, Gabarone, Gralise, Nupentin. All of these medicines are called “generics of Neurontin”.
These medicines, as they are less advertised, are much cheaper than Neurontin. However they can be hardly found at local drug stores, the only option you have, if you want to save your money and receive a high quality medicine, is to buy generic
Neurontin at our online pharmacy, which guarantees you the highest quality of the medicine, and affordable price at the same time.
When Neurontin (Gabapentin) is prescribed?
Neurontin is prescribed for the treatment of the following conditions in adults and children over 3 years:
Various forms of epilepsy. Usually doctors prescribe prescribe Neurontin for patients to help them to treat your epilepsy when a current treatment is not fully controlling his/her condition. Neurontin is used as addition to the main treatment of epilepsy.
Peripheral neuropathic pain (long lasting pain caused by damaged nerves). This disease can occur and develop in various conditions: injury, diabetes, shingles, and others.
Your doctor may prescribe you Neurontin for the treatment of other diseases, if he thinks that it is a right medicine for your case.
Before you start the treatment with Neurontin
When your doctor prescribes you Neurontin, you should necessarily inform him about the following:
If you are hypersensitive to Gabapentin
If you have any allergy
If you have any chronic or acute disease
If you are on haemodialysis
If you are taking some other medicines at the moment
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed in near future
Pharmaceutical form of Neurontin (Gabapentin)
Capsules
Neurontin is supplied in a form of capsules by 100 mg, 300 mg or 400 mg of Gabapentin.
Capsules also contain lactose monohydrate, maize starch, talc, gelatin, purified water, and sodium lauryl sulphate.
Film-Coated Tablets
Neurontin is supplied in a form of film-coated tablets by 600 mg or 800 mg of Gabapentin.
Tablets of Neurontin also contain poloxamer 407 (ethylene oxide and propylene oxide), copovidone, maize starch and magnesium stearate, opadry white YS-1-18111 (hydroxypropylcellulose, talc), candelilla wax.
Oral solution
Neurontin oral solution if supplied in bottles containing 470 ml.
Dosage of Neurontin and special recommendations
For the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia in adults, the following daily dosage is prescribed: a single 300mg dose of Neurontin on Day 1, 600 mg/day on Day 2 (divided in 2 intakes), and 900 mg day on Day 3 (divided in 3 intakes). If the effect of Neurontin is insufficient, the daily dose may be gradually increased to 1800 mg (divided in 3 intakes).
Clinical studies show that the most effective and optimal daily dosage is 1800 mg daily, doses exceeding this amount do not show improvement of the effect achieved by the daily dose of 1800 mg.
For the treatment of epilepsy, Neurontin is used in different doses for children over 3 years and for adults, the daily dose of Neurontin for adults and children over 12 years is: from 900 to 1800 mg/day taken in divided doses (three times a day), using 300 or 400 mg capsules, or 600 or 800 mg tablets. The starting dose is 300 mg three times a day.
If necessary, the daily dose may be increased using 300 or 400 mg capsules, or 600 or 800 mg tablets three times a day up to 1800 mg/day. The interval between the previous dose and increased dose should be no less than 12 hours.
For the treatment of epilepsy in children under 12 years the following dosage is prescribed: the starting dose should range from 10–15 mg/kg/day, the dose should be divided in 3 doses. In order to find the correct dose, it is recommended to increase the dose gradually in 3 days.
The optimal dose of Neurontin in patients of 5 years and older is 25–35 mg/kg/day, the maximum dose is 40mg of Neurontin taken in 3 intakes. Neurontin in children can be administered as the oral solution, capsule, or tablet, or using combinations of these formulations.
Patients with diabetes and acute renal failure should take reduced doses of Neurontin.
Neurontin is a medication that is available these days for the purpose of treating problems in relation to epilepsy. It is an anticonvulsant medication that helps you in controlling seizure symptoms. In case when you need to buy this medication, you can do that online. But you should be cautious when you buy it.
Buy this from a reputed online pharmacy store. When you take generic Neurontin there will be a cost benefit as available to you. But make sure you know that how you should take this medication and all the precautions that you need to take.
When you are on Gabapentin or Neurontin you should wear an ID card having personal info and your physicians contact number. In case of any serious complication in an emergency there can be some help that can be demanded.
Gabapentin Usage
You should use Gabapentin exactly as per your doctors advice. You should report him in case when you have some allergic reactions like hives, skin rashes and breathing problems. You should also tell your doctor if there are any side effects.
Patients having heart diseases, liver diseases and kidney diseases should be very much cautious when this medication is used. It should be taken only with doctors instructions and also there should be some amount of special medical attention that will be needed.
It is important to note that Gabapentin may give you suicidal thoughts and this can happen and you should therefore be in touch with your doctor when this medication is going on.
If you feel that the problems have worsened and there is depression, agitation, anxiety and seizures you must immediately tell your doctor about this. He may have to change the dose or at least change the medication.
It is up to the care givers to give extra attention to patients going through this phase and who are on Generic Neurontin.
It is still not known that whether this medication can be taken safely by pregnant women or not. But still, it is vital that you tell the doctor about pregnancy and plans to become pregnant so that he can guide you over the issue.
This medication can get into the blood and via that into the breast milk. Thus females who are nursing mothers should avoid generic Neurontin or Neurontin.
You should ask your doctor about all the instructions that are required to be followed when he tells you to buy this medication. You should ask about all the doubts that you have. You must also read the instruction list that comes with the medication.
It is also important to note that some doctors prescribe other medications also along with Neurontin so as to get effective treatment for the problem. It is vital to know that this epilepsy medication is not apt for children below3 years of age. The combination drugs with Neurontin are apt for children who are above 12 years of age.
If you are aware of the mentioned precautions you can take safe steps for treatment.
This medication may create a few risks for patients who are already suffering from problems like kidney, liver or heart problems. Thus if you have any such problems or you are tasking any medication in relation to these disorders then you should tell this to your doctor in advance.
You should be very specific about the scheduled appointments. Make sure that you check your doctor regularly and this is something for your safety.
If after starting the medication you feel that the problems have worsened then in that case you should be quite cautious. You should tell about this to the doctor and he will take the required action that may be needed.
Gabapentin has several potential therapeutic uses and may represent a safer option versus alternative agents in some of these indications, so the intent of this analysis is not to condemn its use.
However, it is prudent to recognize that gabapentin has seen high rates of off-label use and increased prescribing in recent years, which fails to align with current evidence regarding efficacy. Indeed, most of the evidence for off-label use is limited to a few small, low-quality studies, often with data only weakly supporting use. Higher quality evidence, which indicates gabapentin nonefficacy, is often lost in the shuffle.
Given the increasing reports of abuse and evidence of potential harms associated with gabapentin use, it is important to realize the potential risks associated with this medication and weigh these risks against this lack of reliable evidence purporting its efficacy for many of its off-label uses.
Thus, we urge clinicians to apply a more stringent appraisal of the available evidence for a given indication when prescribing gabapentin off-label and call for larger, higher-quality studies to be conducted to better assess the efficacy of gabapentin for many of its off-label uses.
Gabapentin is the generic name of a prescription drug used to treat epilepsy. Gabapentin works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. It also may change the way the body senses pain. Gabapentin is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants.
Gabapentin is a medication that is commonly used to help control various types of pain. While its primary indication is for the treatment of epilepsy and seizures, it has also been found to be effective in managing certain types of neuropathic pain, including:
Diabetic Neuropathy: Gabapentin can help reduce the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage caused by diabetes.
Postherpetic Neuralgia: Gabapentin is often prescribed to relieve the pain that persists after an episode of shingles (herpes zoster).
Neuropathic Pain: Gabapentin may also be used to alleviate neuropathic pain associated with other conditions, such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia.
Chronic Pain Syndromes: In some cases, gabapentin may be used off-label to manage chronic pain syndromes, such as chronic lower back pain or chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
Gabapentin works by modulating the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which helps reduce abnormal neuronal firing and dampens pain signals. While it may not be effective for all types of pain, gabapentin can provide significant relief for some individuals with neuropathic pain conditions.
Gabapentin is primarily used to help manage pain, particularly neuropathic pain, by altering the way the body perceives pain signals. However, it does not cure the underlying condition causing the pain.
For example, if someone has neuropathic pain due to diabetic neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia (nerve pain following shingles), gabapentin can help reduce the intensity of the pain signals being sent to the brain. This can result in a decrease in pain sensations and improved quality of life for the individual. However, it doesn’t address the root cause of the neuropathy itself.
It’s important for individuals using gabapentin for pain management to understand that it is part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may also include physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, and other medications. Additionally, some individuals may find that gabapentin provides significant relief from their pain, while others may not experience the same level of benefit.
As always, it’s essential to work closely with a healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for managing pain and to monitor for any potential side effects or complications associated with gabapentin use.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved gabapentin in 1993 under the brand name Neurontin for the drug manufacturer Pfizer. The medication comes in capsule form, as a regular or extended-release tablet, and as a liquid.
Gabapentin interacts with voltage-sensitive calcium channels in cortical neurons. Gabapentin increases the synaptic concentration of GABA, enhances GABA responses at non-synaptic sites in neuronal tissues, and reduces the release of mono-amine neurotransmitters.
gabapentin
One of the mechanisms implicated in this effect of gabapentin is the reduction of the axon excitability measured as an amplitude change of the presynaptic fibre volley (FV) in the CA1 area of the hippocampus.
This is mediated through its binding to presynaptic NMDA receptors. Other studies have shown that the antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects of gabapentin are mediated by the descending noradrenergic system, resulting in the activation of spinal alpha-2 adrenergic receptors. Gabapentin has also been shown to bind and activate the adenosine A1 receptor.
Gabapentin may help to control your condition but will not cure it. Continue to take gabapentin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking gabapentin without talking to your doctor, even if you experience side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood.
If you suddenly stop taking gabapentin tablets, capsules, or oral solution, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, nausea, pain, and sweating. If you are taking gabapentin to treat seizures and you suddenly stop taking the medication, you may experience seizures more often.
Your doctor may decrease your dose gradually over at least a week.
If you suddenly stop taking gabapentin tablets, capsules, or oral solution, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, nausea, pain, and sweating. If you are taking gabapentin to treat seizures and you suddenly stop taking the medication, you may experience seizures more often.