Gabapentin is primarily prescribed for people with epilepsy as a way to help control seizures. It is also used to treat nerve pain caused by diabetes and to prevent hot flashes in women who have had breast cancer or who are going through menopause.
Take gabapentin capsules, tablets or extended-release tablets as directed by your doctor. Read the Medication Guide and, if available, the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking this medication and each time you get a refill.
Gabapentin, sold under the brand names Neurontin, Gralise, and Horizant, is a prescription drug used to treat epilepsy and nerve pain from herpes zoster (shingles). It works by changing how certain chemical messengers in your brain and nerves work. This medication is also sometimes prescribed for other conditions, including restless leg syndrome and some types of pain.Medications are the first line of treatment for many people with seizures. For many, drugs like Gabapentin help control their seizures and keep them from recurring.
Some people who only have one seizure may not need medications, and can instead focus on preventing future episodes by practicing safe behaviors and using other treatments, such as diet changes or surgery. Medications control seizures in the majority of people with the condition, and are particularly helpful in reducing the number of seizure events in children.
The most common side effects of Gabapentin include dizziness and drowsiness. It is not recommended to drive or operate machinery while taking this drug. It can also interact with some other medications, so you should tell your doctor about any over-the-counter and herbal supplements you are currently taking.
This medication can also cause dangerously slow breathing, especially in older adults and those with serious health conditions. This risk is increased when it is taken with opioids, benzodiazepines, and other medicines that slow down your breathing. Get emergency medical help if you have trouble breathing, a bluish tinge to your lips or fingers, or severe skin reaction with swelling of your face, eyes, tongue, or throat.
Gabapentin can affect the amount of calcium in your blood, so it is important to drink plenty of fluids while taking this medicine. You should not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor, as it can cause seizures and other symptoms of withdrawal.
This drug can cause a rare, but serious, reaction in some people called multiorgan hypersensitivity syndrome, or DRESS. This happens when you have a severe allergic reaction to multiple substances in your body. Symptoms may include fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a bluish tinge in your lips and fingernails, or unusual muscle pain and weakness.
Gabapentin reduces the pain that develops after shingles or herpes zoster, and can help people who have severe nerve pain that doesn’t respond to other treatments. It works by blocking certain pain signals from reaching the brain and it can also increase the effect of other medications used to treat pain, such as NSAIDs or opioids. Gabapentin can be prescribed in immediate-release tablets (Neurontin), extended-release tablets or as a liquid solution (Gabapentin Liquid). Different forms are absorbed in the body differently, and the doctor will prescribe the appropriate form for each person.
A recent study found that gabapentin can effectively decrease postherpetic neuralgia at a dosage of 1,200 milligrams per day. This medication can be taken with or without food. The doctor will recommend the right dose and length of treatment for each person. Taking gabapentin for an extended period of time can cause addiction, but the drug is not as euphoric as opioids and has a lower potential for abuse. However, if someone starts taking the medication for unapproved reasons, such as to counteract opioid withdrawal symptoms or to enhance the effects of other drugs such as methadone, it can lead to psychological dependency and addiction.
One study compared the effects of gabapentin with other painkillers in treating postherpetic neuralgia and found that it was the most effective of all medications tested. Another study found that it was equally as effective as a spinal cord stimulator, which uses electrical stimulation to block the pain signals from reaching the brain and can be implanted in the spine.
This medication may cause side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness or headache. If these persist, contact the doctor. It is also important to tell the doctor about any other health conditions, such as kidney or liver disease or a history of depression or anxiety. If a person is over 65, the doctor will consider lowering the dose because seniors’ bodies process the drug less effectively.Those who have trouble swallowing tablets should speak to the doctor about getting the liquid formulation of this medication. The doctor will give a special measuring device to use and instructions about how much to take with each dose. If a person takes an aluminum or magnesium-containing antacid, such as Maalox, Mylanta or Gelusil, they should wait two hours before taking their gabapentin dosage.
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