Author: Alex Thompson

Gabepentin: Uses, dosage, safety, and more

It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you, your child, or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. The number of daily doses, the hours that pass between those doses, and how long a person takes gabapentin will vary among individuals. People who are pregnant and those who intend to become pregnant should tell their healthcare professional before taking gabapentin.

Gabapentin is from a group of medicines called anticonvulsants. Never stop taking gabapentin without talking to your healthcare provider first. Also, never change your dose without talking to your provider first.

What are the more common side effects of gabapentin?

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, especially in the first few months if you have epilepsy. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Only use the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Measure the oral liquid using a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. If your doctor tells you to take one-half of a regular tablet as part of your dose, carefully split the tablet along the score mark. Properly dispose of any half-tablets that you have not used within several days of breaking them.

If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Gabapentin oral capsule is used for short-term or long-term treatment. The length of treatment depends on what condition it’s being used to treat. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed. Don’t take this drug again if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it before.

Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised. This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the medicine your doctor prescribes. Gabapentin is available as both a brand name product and a generic product (chemically the same, usually lower cost than the brand name product). Brand names of gabapentin include Horizant®, Gralise® and Neurontin®.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Gabapentin is used with other medications to prevent and control seizures. It is also used to relieve nerve pain following shingles (a painful rash due to herpes zoster infection) in adults. Gabapentin is known as an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug. Neurontin (gabapentin) is a prescription antiepileptic medication commonly used for neuropathic pain (pain due to nerve damage), along with other health conditions. Gabapentin extended-release tablets cannot be substituted for another type of gabapentin product.

1. Discard half tablets if not used within several days of splitting them.
2. Do not take this medication more often or increase your dose without consulting your doctor.
3. If the symptoms do not improve in 5–15 minutes, or they come back, use a second pen if the person has one.
4. This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect gabapentin.

Gabapentin can cause life-threatening breathing problems, especially if you already have a breathing disorder or if you use other medicines that can make you drowsy or slow your breathing. Seek emergency medical attention if you have very slow breathing. Drinking alcohol with gabapentin could increase sleepiness or dizziness. Gabapentin is a prescription medication known as a gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue.

Warnings for people with certain health conditions

A small number of studies have reported misuse and abuse of gabapentin.

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. This article discusses gabapentin and its uses, how long it takes to treat nerve pain, dosage recommendations, side effects, and more. Gabapentin can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication or alcohol. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include Micromedex (updated 3 Mar 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Mar 2024), ASHP (updated 10 Mar 2024) and others. Taking gabapentin with other drugs that make you drowsy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before taking opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Gabapentin: What to know

Be sure that you receive only the type of gabapentin that was prescribed by your doctor. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the type of gabapentin you were given. Gabapentin comes as a capsule, a tablet, an extended-release (long-acting) tablet, and an oral solution (liquid) to take by mouth.

Dosage for partial-onset seizures

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. Gabapentin works in the brain to prevent seizures and relieve pain for certain conditions in the nervous system. It is not used for routine pain caused by minor injuries or arthritis.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements. Do not stop using gabapentin without checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you or your child to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping it completely.