Gabapentin

💊 What is Gabapentin used for?

• •Pain from damaged nerves that follows shingles (postherpetic neuralgia) in adults
• •Partial onset seizures, used together with other seizure medicines, in adults and children 3 years of age and older with epilepsy

How it works

How it is usually taken

• •The label says gabapentin is taken by mouth. For shingles nerve pain, the dose is built up over the first few days and can be increased as needed for pain relief. For seizures, it is taken three times a day, and the label says the maximum time between doses should not exceed 12 hours. The dose in children is based on body weight. Dose may need to be adjusted in people with reduced kidney function. Follow the instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Comes as

• •100 mg capsules: white hard capsules
• •300 mg capsules: yellow hard capsules
• •400 mg capsules: orange hard capsules

⚠️ Gabapentin side effects

🛑 Who should not take Gabapentin, and who should be careful

The label says not to take it if

• 🚨You are allergic to gabapentin or any of its other ingredients. The label lists anhydrous lactose, cornstarch, and talc as inactive ingredients.

Tell your doctor before taking it if

• •Tell your healthcare provider about kidney problems or if you are on hemodialysis.
• •Tell your provider if you have or have had depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior.
• •Tell your provider if you have a history of drug abuse.
• •Tell your provider if you have diabetes or breathing problems.
• •Tell your provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding or plan to.
• •Tell your provider about all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
• •The label says you should not drive or operate complex machinery until you know how gabapentin affects you, because it can cause sleepiness and dizziness.

🔀 Gabapentin with other medicines, food and alcohol

The label says to discuss these with your doctor or pharmacist

• •Opioid pain medicines such as morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, or buprenorphine: the label says these can cause serious breathing problems, sometimes resulting in death. Morphine can increase gabapentin levels, and hydrocodone exposure can be decreased. The label says patients taking morphine should be watched for sleepiness, sedation, and slowed breathing.
• •Medicines for anxiety (such as lorazepam), medicines for insomnia (such as zolpidem), or other medicines that cause sleepiness: these may increase the chance of dizziness, sleepiness, or breathing problems.
• •Antacids containing magnesium and aluminum hydroxide (such as Maalox): these reduced gabapentin absorption by about 20%. The label recommends taking gabapentin at least 2 hours after Maalox.
• •Other antiepileptic drugs: the label says gabapentin is not appreciably metabolized and does not interfere with the metabolism of commonly used antiepileptic drugs.
• •Urine tests: the label says false positive readings for urinary protein were reported with the Ames N-Multistix SG dipstick test. The sulfosalicylic acid precipitation procedure is recommended instead.

Alcohol and food

The label does not say.

🤰 Gabapentin in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

The label says it is not known if gabapentin can harm an unborn baby. Data from published studies have not indicated an increased risk of major birth defects or miscarriage, but the label notes important limitations in these studies. In animal studies, gabapentin was developmentally toxic at doses similar to or lower than those used clinically. The label says tell your provider right away if you become pregnant, and that you and your provider will decide whether to take gabapentin during pregnancy. It also encourages enrolling in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry by calling 1-888-233-2334 or visiting http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/.

Breastfeeding

The label says gabapentin is secreted in human milk. The effects on the breastfed infant and on milk production are unknown. You and your healthcare provider should decide how to feed your baby while taking gabapentin.

🗓️ Storage, missed doses and taking too much

Storage

The label text provided does not list storage temperatures or conditions. It is listed as capsules in bottles of various counts.

If a dose is missed

The label does not say.

If too much is taken

The label says overdose symptoms have included double vision, tremor, slurred speech, drowsiness, altered mental status, dizziness, lethargy, and diarrhea. Fatal respiratory depression has been reported with overdose, alone and in combination with other central nervous system depressants. Gabapentin can be removed by hemodialysis. If overexposure occurs, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

🗒️ Questions to ask about Gabapentin

• What is the right dose and schedule for my condition, and how should I increase it if needed?
• Should I tell you about any kidney problems, mood changes, or breathing problems before I start?
• What signs of mood changes or suicidal thoughts should I watch for, and who should I call?
• How should I stop this medicine safely if I need to, given the risk of seizures?
• Which of my current medicines, including opioids, sleep aids, or antacids, could interact with gabapentin?
• Is it safe for me to drive or operate machinery while taking this medicine?
• What should I do if I think I may be pregnant or breastfeeding?

❓ Gabapentin: frequently asked questions