1. Home >
  2. Medicine Info >
  3. Gabapentin

Gabapentin

Prescription
Required

Description

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant which is used in the treatment of epilepsy and postherpetic neuralgia. It is recommended to start with a small dosage and increase gradually. Do not stop abruptly taking this medicine as it may cause withdrawal symptoms like convulsions.

Uses of Gabapentin

What is it prescribed for?

  • Epilepsy

    Gabapentin is used in the treatment of epilepsy which is a brain disorder characterized by uncontrolled jerking movements and loss of consciousness.

  • Postherpetic Neuralgia

    Gabapentin is used in the treatment complication of shingles, which is caused by the chickenpox virus characterized by pain or burning sensation of the skin.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Gabapentin

  • Dizzinesssevere
  • Uncontrolled eye movementssevere
  • Agitation and anxietysevere
  • Restlessnesssevere
  • Hyperactivitysevere
  • Unusual tiredness and weaknesssevere
  • Irritabilitysevere
  • Blurred vision
  • Lower back pain
  • Tremors
  • Increased appetite
  • Change in vision
  • Dry mouth
  • Weight gain
SEVERE
Contact your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms are experienced on a regular basis.
RARE
Observed in a small fraction of population.
This is not an exhaustive list of side effects. Please inform your doctor if you experience any adverse reaction to the medication.

Highlights

Commonly asked questions for Gabapentin

Onset of action

The effect of this medicine can be observed in 2 to 3 hours.

Duration of effect

The effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 15 to 21 hours.

Safe with alcohol?

moderate
Consumption of alcohol with this medicine is not recommended as it increases the risk of side effects like dizziness, difficulty in concentration. Do not perform activities that require mental alertness like driving or operating machinery.

Is it habit forming?

No habit forming tendency has been reported.

Usage in pregnancy?

This medicine is not recommended for pregnant women unless necessary. The benefits and risks should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.

Usage while breast-feeding?

This medicine is known to excreted through the breast milk. It is not recommended in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Monitoring of drowsiness and body weight is necessary.

Find a doctor near you

Looking for a doctor?

Book an appointment with the top doctors near you.

When not to use?

Contraindications of Gabapentin

  • Allergy

    Not recommended in patients with known allergy to Gabapentin.

Dosage

  • Missed Dose

    If you miss a dose of Gabapentin, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.

  • Overdose

    Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.

Interactions

All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.

Interaction with Alcoholmoderate

  • Description

    - Concomitant use of alcohol with central nervous system active agents may potentiate the central nervous system depression and respiratory depression.

  • Instructions

    - Consumption of alcohol with this medicine is not recommended as it increases the risk of side effects like dizziness, difficulty in concentration. Do not perform activities that require mental alertness like driving or operating machinery.

Interaction with Medicine

Disease interactions

  • Impaired kidney function

    severe
    This medicine should be used with caution in patients with kidney impairment. Monitoring of kidney function is necessary. Dose adjustments are to be made based on CrCl.

Food interactions

  • Information not available.

Lab interactions

  • Information not available.
This is not an exhaustive list of possible drug interactions. You should consult your doctor about all the possible interactions of the drugs you’re taking.

General Instructions

Take Gabapentin as instructed by your doctor. Do not take in larger amounts than prescribed due to the risk of sedation. Take this medicine at the same time every day. Do not stop taking without consulting your doctor as it may cause withdrawal symptoms.

Warnings

Warnings for special population

  • Pregnancy

    - This medicine is not recommended for pregnant women unless necessary. The benefits and risks should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.

  • Breast-feeding

    - This medicine is known to excreted through the breast milk. It is not recommended in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Monitoring of drowsiness and body weight is necessary.

General warnings

  • Suicidal thoughts

    - This medicine may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts in the first week of the treatment. Therefore this medicine should be used with caution and prescription size should be limited in patients with depression or suicidal tendencies.

  • Skin reactions

    - Gabapentin may cause skin reaction like Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS). The treatment should be discontinued if any symptoms appear of skin rash appear

  • Sedation

    - Gabapentin is known to cause sedation and dizziness. Therefore, patients receiving this medicine should b counseled about these effects and advised to avoid operating heavy machinery or driving vehicle. Inform the doctor if the symptoms persist.

  • Pediatric use

    - This medicine is known to cause central nervous system effects like behavior changes, difficulty in concentration and restlessness. It should be used with caution in children aged between 3 to 12 years. The treatment should be discontinued if any symptoms appear.

  • Withdrawal symptoms

    - Gabapentin should not be stopped immediately without informing the doctor due to the risk of increasing seizure frequency. Gradual dose reduction should be made based on the outcomes in the patient.

Other details

  • Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor
  • To be taken as instructed by doctor
  • May cause sleepiness

How it works

It works by reducing the hyperexcitability of the brain cells to treat convulsions. It relieves the pain in neuralgia by altering the way the body senses the pain.

Legal Status

Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved

Classification

Category
Gamma-aminobutyric acid analogs
Schedule
Gabapentin

References

Related Questions

Chat with a doctor

Get reply within 5 mins

How will this medicine affect me?

Chat with verified doctors starting @ ₹99

Did you find this helpful?

Your feedback will help us improve the product

Thanks for your response
What can we improve?
Thanks for your response
Information on this page was last updated on 16 Nov 2017

Report an error

Oops! Seems like there is an error in your form. Make sure -
  1. Your email ID is correct.
  2. Your response is not blank.
  3. Your internet is working.
Thank you!
Your response is valuable to us.

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.