Gabapentin
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.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Gabapentin
- Dizziness
- Uncontrolled eye movements
- Agitation and anxiety
- Restlessness
- Hyperactivity
- Unusual tiredness and weakness
- Irritability
- Blurred vision
- Lower back pain
- Tremors
- Increased appetite
- Change in vision
- Dry mouth
- Weight gain
Uses of Gabapentin
What is it prescribed for?
- Epilepsy
- Postherpetic Neuralgia
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of this medicine can be observed in 2 to 3 hours.
- Duration of effectThe effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 15 to 21 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?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.
Allergy
Not recommended in patients with known allergy to Gabapentin.
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.
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.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
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
Duloxetine
Buprenorphine
Disease interactions
Impaired kidney function
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.
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.
Miscelleneous
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
Classification
Category
Gamma-aminobutyric acid analogs
Schedule
Gabapentin
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 9 May 2017]. Available from:
Gabapentin: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 9 May 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - Gabapentin capsule [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 9 May 2017]. Available from:
Gabapentin - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 9 May 2017]. Available from:
Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 9 May 2017]. Available from:
[Internet]. Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 9 May 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 16 Nov 2017
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.