Gabapentin (Neurontin) is a medication approved to treat certain seizures and nerve pain. It's typically taken 3 times daily by mouth, and is available as pills and a liquid. Common side effects include dizziness and sleepiness.
Nerve pain from shingles in adults
Add on treatment for partial (focal) seizures in people age 3 years and older
Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an antiepileptic that's also used to help with nerve pain. It has a similar structure to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical in the brain that calms nerves. It's not completely known how gabapentin (Neurontin) works to treat seizures or nerve pain, but it's thought to work by lowering the activation of nerves involved with causing nerve pain and seizures.
Source:Â DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Clumsiness or unsteadiness
continuous, uncontrolled, back-and-forth, or rolling eye movements
More common in children
Aggressive behavior or other behavior problems
concentration problems and change in school performance
crying
false sense of well-being
hyperactivity or increase in body movements
rapidly changing moods
reacting too quickly, too emotional, or overreacting
restlessness
suspiciousness or distrust
Less common
Black, tarry stools
chills
depression, irritability, or other mood or mental changes
loss of memory
pain or swelling in the arms or legs
painful or difficult urination
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
swollen glands
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach pain
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
clay-colored stools
coma
confusion
convulsions
dark urine
decreased urine output
difficult or troubled breathing
dizziness
fast or irregular heartbeat
headache
increased thirst
irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
itching or skin rash
joint pain
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
loss of appetite
muscle ache or pain
pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
red, irritated eyes
unpleasant breath odor
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Blurred vision
delusions
hoarseness
lack or loss of strength
lower back or side pain
swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs
trembling or shaking
Less common or rare
Accidental injury
appetite increased
back pain
bloated or full feeling
body aches or pain
burning, dry, or itching eyes
change in vision
change in walking and balance
clumsiness or unsteadiness
congestion
cough producing mucus
decrease in sexual desire or ability
dryness of the mouth or throat
excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
excessive tearing
eye discharge
feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheadedness
feeling of warmth or heat
flushed, dry skin
flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
fruit-like breath odor
impaired vision
incoordination
increased hunger
increased sensitivity to pain
increased sensitivity to touch
increased thirst
indigestion
noise in the ears
pain, redness, rash, swelling, or bleeding where the skin is rubbed off
passing gas
redness or swelling in the ear
redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
sweating
tender, swollen glands in the neck
tightness in the chest
tingling in the hands and feet
trouble sleeping
trouble swallowing
trouble thinking
twitching
unexplained weight loss
voice changes
vomiting
weakness or loss of strength
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Works well for seizures and nerve pain
Available as a lower-cost generic
Available as a tablet, capsule, and liquid for those who have trouble swallowing pills
Dose can be adjusted based on response
Needs to be taken multiple times per day
Stopping the medication suddenly can lead to serious problems, such as seizures
Can raise your risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior
Commonly causes dizziness
Gabapentin (Neurontin) can raise the risk of suicidal thoughts. Contact your provider right away if you or your loved ones notice any new or worsening changes in your behavior or mood while taking the medication.
Gabapentin (Neurontin) commonly causes sleepiness and dizziness. Don't drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how this medication affects you.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking gabapentin (Neurontin) because it can worsen side effects (e.g., drowsiness, dizziness).
Gabapentin (Neurontin) can interact with some commonly prescribed medications. Make sure to tell your provider and pharmacist about all of the medications you're taking before starting gabapentin (Neurontin). Some medications that interact with gabapentin (Neurontin) include benzodiazepines, anxiety medications, and opioid pain medications. These combinations with gabapentin (Neurontin) can raise your risk of side effects, such as sleepiness, dizziness, and dangerously slow breathing.
Medications containing aluminum or magnesium (e.g., multivitamins, Mylanta Maximum Strength) can lower the amount of gabapentin (Neurontin) that gets absorbed into your body, which can make the medication not work as well for you. Take gabapentin (Neurontin) at least 2 hours after taking a medication with aluminum or magnesium.
Don't change your dose or suddenly stop taking gabapentin (Neurontin) without talking to your provider first. Doing so can cause withdrawal symptoms like seizures, anxiety, and sleeping problems. Follow your provider's instructions to lower your dose slowly over a period of time to stop the medication completely.
You can take gabapentin (Neurontin) with or without food, but if it upsets your stomach, try taking it with food to help.
If you're taking the gabapentin (Neurontin) capsules, swallow the capsules whole with water. Don't crush, chew, or open the capsules.
If you're taking the gabapentin (Neurontin) tablets, you can split the tablets where they're scored with a line in the middle of the tablet. Half-tablets not taken within 28 days of splitting in half should be thrown away.
If you're taking gabapentin (Neurontin) liquid, make sure to use an oral syringe or medication dosing cup to measure out your dose. Don't use household spoons because they aren't accurate and might cause you to take the wrong dose.
Store the liquid in the refrigerator in the original bottle it came in from the pharmacy.
Gabapentin (Neurontin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe allergic reactions to gabapentin (Neurontin) are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). Although rare, gabapentin (Neurontin) can also cause serious skin reactions, such as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS). If you notice changes in your skin (e.g., rash, blisters, swollen lymph nodes, skin reddening, skin peeling) or experience swelling in your face or trouble breathing, stop using gabapentin (Neurontin) and get medical attention right away.
Risk factors: Taking high doses of gabapentin (Neurontin) | Drinking alcohol | Taking other medications that can cause sleepiness
Gabapentin (Neurontin) can cause extreme dizziness and sleepiness, which can lower your ability to think, react, and focus. Your risk might be higher is you're taking other medications that can cause you to feel sleepy (e.g., benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, sleep medications). But this side effect should get better after a few weeks. Make sure you know how this medication affects you before driving a car or doing activities that require your concentration. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you feel too sleepy from taking gabapentin (Neurontin).
Stopping gabapentin (Neurontin) suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures, anxiety, nervousness, and irregular heart rhythms. Don't change your dose or stop taking gabapentin (Neurontin) without talking to your provider first. They'll help you lower your dose slowly over time before stopping completely.
Risk factors: Taking other anti-seizure medications
Gabapentin (Neurontin) can cause you to have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself. Sometimes, this can happen as early as 1 week after you start taking gabapentin (Neurontin). If you or anyone around you notice that you have suicidal thoughts or unusual behavior (e.g., anxiety, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, feeling angry or irritated, restlessness) while taking gabapentin (Neurontin), get medical help right away.
Risk factors: Taking medications that can cause slow breathing | Drinking alcohol | Medical conditions that cause breathing problems (e.g., COPD, asthma, brain tumors, head injury, high pressure in the brain)
Gabapentin (Neurontin) can cause dangerously slow breathing when taken with other medications that can slow your breathing (e.g., benzodiazepines, opioids, alcohol). If you or your loved one notice you have trouble breathing or have bluish-colored lips, fingers, or toes, call 911 to get medical help right away.
Risk factors: Children ages 3 to 12 years old
Children who use gabapentin (Neurontin) can experience certain brain or mental health side effects, such as unstable emotions, aggressive behavior, problems concentrating, restlessness, hyperactivity, and changes in school performance. When these side effects occur, they're usually mild to moderate in intensity. If you or anyone notices these behaviors in your child, contact your child's provider.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
250mg/5ml | 60 ml | $11.18 | $0.19 |
The dose is the same for the tablets, capsules, and liquid.
Nerve pain from shingles
Adults: The typical starting dose is 300 mg by mouth once daily on Day 1, then 300 mg twice daily on Day 2, and then 300 mg three times daily starting on Day 3 and onwards. Your provider might raise your dose depending on your response. The maximum dose is 600 mg three times daily.
Partial seizures
Adults and children age 12 years and older: The typical starting dose is 300 mg by mouth three times daily. The typical maintenance dose ranges from 300 mg to 600 mg by mouth three times daily.
Children age 3 to up to 12 years old: Your child's provider will determine your child's dose based on their age and weight. The typical starting dose ranges from 10 mg/kg to 15 mg/kg daily, divided into three smaller doses and taken by mouth throughout the day. The typical maintenance dose ranges from 25 mg/kg to 40 mg/kg daily, divided into three smaller doses and taken throughout the day.
Your dose might be different if you have side effects.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Nerve pain from shingles in adults
Add on treatment for partial (focal) seizures in people age 3 years and older
Nerve pain from shingles in adults
Nerve pain caused by shingles (postherpetic neuralgia)
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