Medicines/Generics/Gabapentin

Gabapentin

Generic medicine reference

Not yet clinically reviewed

This entry was migrated from the earlier Pharmapedia app bundle and has not been reviewed by a named clinician on this site. It is provided for educational reference only — verify dosage and safety information against current, authoritative sources and a qualified healthcare professional before any clinical use.

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Overview

Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Gabarone, Relgaabi) is a medicine used to treat partial seizures , nerve pain from shingles and restless leg syndrome . It works on the chemical messengers in your brain and nerves. Gabapentin belongs to the drug class called gabapentinoids . Different brands of gabapentin are not interchangeable and they are FDA-approved for different conditions. Use only the brand and form of gabapentin your doctor has prescribed. Check your medicine each time you get a refill to make sure you receive the correct form. Neurontin (gabapentin) is used to treat pain you may have from shingles (postherpetic nerve pain). It is also used with other seizure medicines for partial onset seizures in patients 3 years and older. Gralise (gabapentin) is only used for pain after having shingles (postherpetic nerve pain). It should not be used for any other medical condition. Horizant ( gabapentin enacarbil) is an extended-release tablet containing a different formulation of gabapentin that is used to treat restless legs syndrome and for the pain from having shingles (postherpetic nerve pain). It is not interchangeable with formulations that contain gabapentin. Generic brands of gabapentin capsules, USP are used for postherpetic nerve pain and for add on therapy for partial onset seizures in patients 3 years and older

Indications

Contraindications

You should not take gabapentin if you are allergic to it. To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had: breathing problems; diabetes; depression , a mood disorder , or suicidal thoughts or actions; drink alcohol; a history of drug addiction ; a seizure; (patients with RLS) if you are a day sleeper or work a night shift; or kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis). Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking seizure medicine. Children taking gabapentin may have behavior changes. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your family or caregivers should also watch for sudden changes in your behavior. It is not known if gabapentin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not start or stop seizure medication during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant. If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of gabapentin on the baby. Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using gabapentin.

Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to gabapentin: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include skin rash, fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. Tell your doctor right away if you have new or sudden changes in mood or behavior, including new or worse depression or anxiety , panic attacks, trouble sleeping , or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, more active or talkative, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. 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. Some side effects are more likely in children taking gabapentin. Call your doctor if the child has any of the following side effects: behavior changes, memory problems, trouble concentrating, or acting restless, hostile, or aggressive. Gabapentin may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have: drowsiness, dizziness, weakness; problems with balance or muscle movement; or increased seizures. Common gabapentin side effects may include: fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, tiredness ; headache ; swelling of your legs and feet; trouble speaking; vision problems, dizziness , drowsiness ; tremors, problems with balance or muscle movement; or nausea, vomiting. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

Gabapentin can cause life-threatening breathing problems (respiratory depression) , especially if you already have a breathing disorder (such as COPD), are elderly, or if you use other medicines that can make you drowsy or slow your breathing, such as opioids or CNS depressants. Seek emergency medical attention if you have very slow breathing. Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking seizure medicine. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Tell your doctor right away if you have any sudden changes in mood or behavior, or thoughts about suicide. Seizures may increase if you stop using gabapentin suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine. Avoid driving or participating in hazardous activities until you know how gabapentin will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries. Do not stop using gabapentin suddenly, even if you feel fine.

High Risk Groups

Adult Dosage

900 to 1800 mg (1400 (1350)) 8 hourly PO — Scraped Dose — Take gabapentin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Never take gabapentin in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. 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. Gralise should be taken with food. Neurontin can be taken with or without food. If you break a tablet and take only half of it, take the other half at your next dose. Any tablet that has been broken should be used as soon as possible or within a few days. Swallow Gralise tablets whole. Do not crush, break, or dissolve them. Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open the capsule. Measure liquid medicine with the supplied measuring device (not a kitchen spoon). Doses are based on weight in children. Your child's dose may change if the child gains or loses weight. You should not stop taking gabapentin suddenly. Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose. This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using gabapentin. Your kidney function may need to be checked often and your dose may change based on the results. Store tablets and capsules at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Store the liquid medicine in the refrigerator, do not freeze. Follow all storage instructions provided. Your pharmacist can provide more information about how to store this medicine.

Child Dosage

No child dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

Neonatal Dosage

No neonatal dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

Drug Interactions

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. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect gabapentin, especially: naproxen ; opioid medicine - hydrocodone , oxycodone , morphine , buprenorphine ; zolpidem ; lorazepam ; or cimetidine . This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect gabapentin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins , and herbal products . Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Storage

Caps Store at room temperature.

Available Brands in Pakistan

51 active brands listed alphabetically.

Gabapentin

Available Brands in Pakistan

ABAGLIN

ABAPEN

BAPEN

BATIN

BIOGABA

BRANON

CHERGAB

DUOGAB

ELKO-GAPE

ENGABA

ENTIN

EPIGAB

FYGABA

GAB

GABA

GABAFIX

GABAGOOD

GABAGYL

GABAPEN

GABAPLUS

GABATIC

GABATIN

GABAVANT

GABIX

GABMOR

GABON

GABOZ

GABRIL

GABRO

GAPTIN

GEPENT

GLOREX

HI-GAB

INDIGA

KAPEN

KOZICH

NEOGAB

NERVEX

NEUPENTIN

NEUROGAB

NEUROGABIN-M

NEVTON

NOTENSIL

OTTOGAB

PARKETIN (NEURONTIN)

PENRAL

RAYMOX

RAYPENTIN

VANIQA

WINURINA

XEGABA