Medications and Drugs
GENERIC NAME: GABAPENTIN - ORAL (gab-uh-PEN-tin)
BRAND NAME(S): Neurontin
Medication Uses | Other Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage | Medical Alert
USES: Gabapentin is used with other medications to help control seizures in adults and children (3 years of age and older). It is also used to relieve nerve pain associated with shingles (herpes zoster) infection in adults.
OTHER USES: Gabapentin may also be used to treat other nerve pain conditions (e.g., diabetic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia).
HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth, with or without food, as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. During the first few days, your doctor may gradually increase your dose so your body can adjust to the medication. To minimize side effects, take the very first dose at bedtime. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. This drug works best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore it is best to take gabapentin at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day and night. Do not take this medication more often or increase your dose without consulting your doctor. Your condition will not improve any faster and the risk of serious side effects may be increased. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions such as seizures may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased. Antacids containing aluminum or magnesium may interfere with the absorption of this medication. Therefore it is best to take gabapentin at least 2 hours after taking an antacid.
SIDE EFFECTS: Drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness, fatigue, vision changes, weight gain, nausea, dry mouth, or constipation may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: tremor or shaking, swollen arms/legs. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: loss of coordination, mental/mood changes. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: persistent sore throat/fever/cough, unusual bleeding/bruising, pain/redness of arms or legs, chest pain, trouble breathing, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, hearing loss, stomach/abdominal pain. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
- Drug Interactions - Learn about potential drug interactions you may be exposed to. Drug interactions can occur with prescription drugs, OTC medication, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
- Epilepsy Treatment - Information on Epilepsy treatment includes how epilepsy is treated, drug therapy, side effects, and surgery.
- Shingles - Read about shingles symptoms (contagious rash), vaccine, causes (chickenpox [varicella] virus, stress), treatment, how it's transmitted and postherpetic neuralgia.
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