Gabapentin: Dosage, Side Effects, Action Mechanism, Interactions and Frequently Asked Questions

It is an anticonvulsant with analgesic properties available in capsules, tablets, and oral solutions.

It has a wide range of intended uses, including controlling specific types of seizures in patients with epilepsy, the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (NPH), and restless legs syndrome.

In treating seizures, Gabapentin decreases abnormal activity in the brain, specifically arousal.

When treating NPH, persistent pain after suffering shingles, Gabapentin changes how the body senses pain, decreasing the burning pain that lasts until years after diagnosis.

However, it is not known precisely how it works in treating restless legs syndrome.

Gabapentin can also be used as an analgesic for those who suffer from diabetic neuropathy, numbness or pain due to diabetes, and the consequent damage to the nerves.

For menopausal women or women treated for breast cancer, Gabapentin can relieve hot flashes. It has also proven to be an effective treatment for those who suffer from alcohol dependence.

 

In a recent study, patients who received high doses of Gabapentin were four times more likely to stop drinking altogether and twice as likely to abstain from heavy drinking.

It is the only medication that has been shown to help alcohol-dependent sleep better and improve their mood.

Dosage

Due to the nature of the medication, it is recommended to take it at specific intervals throughout the day. It is recommended that no more than 12 hours pass between each dose. However, with food, the extended-release tablet should be taken once a day at 5 pm.

If used to treat seizures or NPH, the dosage will likely start low and increase as needed to treat the condition. Pharmacists recommend starting with 300 mg per day and rising at a specific time to a maximum of 3600 mg per day.

It is essential to continue taking the medication as directed and not stop abruptly. Sudden abstinence can cause seizures in patients taking Gabapentin for seizures.

Even for patients without epilepsy, abrupt discontinuation can cause withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal can cause disorientation, tachycardia, hostility, and abdominal problems.

However, some people try to self-medicate when they face addiction to cocaine or alcohol and take Gabapentin to alleviate their anxieties.

Like all medicines, this should only be administered by a medical professional; as tolerances develop, it is necessary to increase your doses more and more. Overdoses are not common but may cause drowsiness, ataxia, nausea and vomiting, tachycardia, and hypotension.

Gabapentin should be taken at least two hours after antacids, as they can reduce the effectiveness of the medication.

Gabapentin is available as:

  • Capsules: 100, 300 and 400 mg.
  • Tablets : 100, 300, 400, 600 and 800 mg.
  • Solution: 250 mg / 5 ml.

Dosage for postherpetic neuralgia and seizures:

The recommended dose for postherpetic neuralgia is 1800 mg daily in 3 divided doses (Neurontin) or 1800 mg once a day (Gralise). Gralise is not interchangeable with other Gabapentin products.

Seizures are treated with 900-1800 mg per day in 3 divided doses (Neurontin). The withdrawal of the treatment should occur slowly for a week.

Gabapentin can be taken with or without food.

Side effects

  • Dizziness.
  • Double vision.
  • Fatigue.
  • Nystagmus (involuntary movement of the eye).
  • Drowsiness.
  • Tremors
  • Instability.

Most people notice side effects the first few days after increasing their dose. Usually, they fade after a while.

Are there any side effects that force people to stop taking Gabapentin?

Side effects that are likely to prevent people from continuing Gabapentin therapy are the following symptoms:

  • Dizziness.
  • Fatigue.
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Drowsiness.
  • Instability.
Is there a psychiatric side effect of taking Gabapentin?

There are some rare side effects, which include the following symptoms:

  • Agitation.
  • Decrease in libido
  • Depersonalization
  • Increase in libido
  • Mania.
  • Paranoia.

It can also cause changes in mental health, including suicidal thoughts. It is recommended to alert a doctor if you have a rash, itching, swelling of the face, difficulty breathing, or seizures.

According to the FDA, the use of Gabapentin in children between 3 and 12 years old can cause adverse psychiatric events. Children can develop behavior problems, hostility, concentration problems, and hyperactivity.

Other side effects and severe side effects associated with Gabapentin include:

  • Weight gain.
  • Pain in the joints.
  • Cinetosis.
  • Blurry vision.
  • Viral infection.

Note: Antiepileptic drugs have been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Anyone considering using antiepileptic drugs should balance this risk of suicide with their clinical need.

Patients who initiated therapy should be closely observed for clinical worsening, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in behavior.

Gabapentin for dogs and cats

For dogs and cats, Gabapentin can treat chronic pain, and it is usually combined with other analgesic agents, such as NSAIDs.

It can also be used for dogs and cats with epilepsy and horses that may suffer seizures due to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Side effects include sedation and ataxia. In the case of pets, Gabapentin should be used with caution in animals with decreased liver or kidney function. As in humans, the medication should not be stopped abruptly.

How does it work (mechanism of action)?

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant medication (anticonvulsant) used to prevent seizures and treat postherpetic neuralgia, the pain that follows an episode of shingles.

It is a relatively new drug, which was introduced in 1993, and the generic version was introduced in 2004. Its uses, mechanism of action, and adverse effects are still being studied.

Because of this, it is not commonly considered a drug of abuse and is not on the list of controlled substances in the United States. However, it has properties similar to many toxics that are commonly consumed and are known to produce withdrawal symptoms and psychoactive effects.

Gabapentin seems to be involved with the neurotransmitter GABA (neurotransmitters are medicines used to communicate with each other). Still, it does not seem to affect receptors manipulated by the most common drugs of abuse, such as opioids and benzodiazepines.

In animal models used to test the anticonvulsant and analgesic (anti-pain) activities of medications, Gabapentin prevents seizures and reduces pain-related responses.

This medication works essentially as a mild tranquilizer, producing a level of euphoria in some users similar to the maximum produced by cannabis. It also usually generates feelings of calm and greater sociability.

They can also be misused by those who try to reduce the withdrawal symptoms of substances such as alcohol.

Do I need a prescription to take this medication?

Yes, it would help if you had a Gabapentin prescription from your doctor or other health care professional.

What uses are approved by the FDA and not authorized by the FDA for Gabapentin?

Gabapentin is approved to treat seizure disorders and nerve damage caused by herpes zoster.

The FDA approves many uses for Gabapentin. These include:

  • Abstinence from alcohol.
  • Cocaine abstinence.
  • Hypo.
  • Uneasy leg syndrome.
  • Hyperhidrosis.
  • Headaches.
  • Diabetic neuropathy.
  • Hot flushes.
  • Fibromyalgia .

Is Gabapentin a narcotic? Is it addictive?

Gabapentin is not an opioid narcotic, and it is not classified as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). However, this medication shares signs and symptoms associated with drug abuse, addiction, and opioid withdrawal symptoms, such as:

  • Perspiration.
  • Anxiety.
  • Muscle pain.
  • Insomnia .
  • Goose skin (piloerection).

There have been reports of patients abusing this medication.

Interactions

Some drugs, including antacids and pain killers, can cause interactions with other medications. It is recommended to inform your doctor if you are taking antacids such as:

  • Hydrocodone.
  • Morphine.
  • Naproxen .
  • Felbamate.
  • Phenytoin

What other medications or supplements interact with this medicine?

Antacids reduce the concentration of Gabapentin in the blood. Therefore, it should be administered for 2 hours or more after taking antacids.

Morphine significantly increases blood concentrations of Gabapentin and can expand adverse events related to the central nervous system.

Can Gabapentin interact with Carbamazepine, Valproate or Lithium?

No severe interactions have been reported between Gabapentin and Valproate, Carbamazepine or Lithium.

Can Gabapentin interact with other prescriptions or over-the-counter medications?

Only some interaction problems are known. It is known that antacids decrease the absorption of the drug and decrease the blood level by 20%.

Gabapentin may also increase the concentration of some oral contraceptives by up to 13%. However, these two possibilities of interaction are not clinically significant.

Is there an interaction problem between Gabapentin and alcohol?

It is known that alcoholic beverages increase the discomfort of the side effects of Gabapentin.

Frequently asked questions, notes, and considerations.

This particular medication is an anticonvulsant. It is not chemically related to other anticonvulsants or other drugs that regulate mood in the market.

At this time, Gabapentin is approved in the United States to treat seizures. There are not many exhaustive studies that analyze Gabapentin as a way to treat anxiety, mood disorders, or tardive dyskinesia.

Although there are studies in progress, what experts know about Gabapentin to control anxiety and mood disorders, and tardive dyskinesia comes mainly from reports of defective cases.

There have been blind studies, but they have not shown that Gabapentin works as a mood stabilizer.

On December 30, 1993, Gabapentina obtained final approval, which meant it could be marketed in the United States. It is only sold as an anticonvulsant.

However, it has also been used for restless legs syndrome, pain problems, hot flushes, tremors, and various psychiatric disorders.

Is there a generic version of Gabapentin available?

Since its manufacturer no longer has patent protection on the drug, there are generic versions of Gabapentin.

What is the difference between Gabapentin and other mood-stabilizing medications?

There are two main ways in which Gabapentin differs from similar medicines in the market:

  • It is effective for people who have difficulty with depression to treat other mood disorders.
  • Side effects are relatively minor.

How is Gabapentin different from Valproate and Carbamazepine?

There are claims that Gabapentin was successful in helping with rapid cycles and mixed bipolar states in people who have not received relief with Valproate or Carbamazepine.

It seemed that Gabapentina helped more with anxiety and agitation than the other two drugs. It has also been shown that Gabapentin could help people with certain types of tardive dyskinesia.

What types of mood and anxiety disorders can be best treated with Gabapentin?

There are not many reports on the use of Gabapentin. Many experts do not recommend its service for mood disorders.

There is more data from people who have difficulty treating bipolar disorder than unipolar depression, although some people with unipolar disorder have obtained good results from Gabapentin.

Can Gabapentin be used for the treatment of mixed bipolar states? Can you prevent future episodes of mania and depression?

There is not much evidence that Gabapentin can be used to treat people with bipolar disorder.

Should a person have laboratory tests before taking Gabapentin?

Before a patient begins Gabapentin therapy, they must undergo a complete medical examination to rule out any medical problems.

This includes blood or urine tests. Medical evaluations are essential because problems such as thyroid conditions can weaken therapy.

How is therapy with Gabapentin started?

Therapy will start with 300 mg once a day, usually at night. The dose will increase every 3 to 5 days. Some people will see an increase of 600 mg per day; others will see increases of up to 4,800 mg per day.

What is the typical final dose prescribed to someone who takes Gabapentin?

If used as a mood stabilizer or antidepressant, the final dose is between 900 and 2,000 mg per day. However, it is known that some patients need up to 4800 mg per day to obtain good results.

Gabapentin has a half-life of approximately six hours, so it should be administered 3 to 4 times a day.

How long does it usually take for Gabapentin to work?

Some people see an improvement in their antigenic and antidepressant symptoms a week after starting treatment. Others need about a month before they see a significant improvement.

Is Gabapentin safe to use if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

The FDA placed Gabapentin in category C of pregnancy. According to animal studies, there was damage to the fetuses. However, no human studies have been conducted.

Despite all this, experts believe that the benefits obtained by taking Gabapentin can outweigh its risks.

Gabapentin is secreted in human breast milk; therefore, if you are pregnant, you should only use this medicine if the benefits outweigh the unknown risk to the fetus.

Can children and adolescents take Gabapentin safely?

In other countries, in addition to the United States, children have been prescribed Gabapentin. However, it has only been approved for use in adolescents over 12 years.

Can older people use Gabapentin?

The elderly seem to experience similar effects to younger people. There are not many precedents in using this medicine to treat psychiatric disorders in this population.

What brand are names available for Gabapentin?

  • Neurontin and Gralise are commercial names available for Gabapentin in the USA. UU
  • Fanatrex, FusePaq Kit, and Gabarone’s brands have been discontinued in the United States.

Can symptoms occur if Gabapentin is discontinued?

Like other psychotropic drugs, people should gradually lower Gabapentin. There are some known withdrawal symptoms. This mostly comes from people who take high doses of the drug and suddenly stop.

People should only stop this drug abruptly due to severe side effects.

If you take an overdose, is Gabapentin toxic?

There is not much data about overdose. It is known that people survive an overdose of up to 49,000 mg of Gabapentin without serious health consequences.

Can this medication be taken with MAO inhibitors?

This particular combination does not present any unique problem.

Can people who received little benefit from other psychotropic medications get good results with Gabapentin?

This drug is used primarily by people with mood or anxiety disorders who have not been adequately treated with other medications.

Why do doctors prescribe Gabapentin when there are other medications to stabilize mood?

These drugs are more effective in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.

There are two reasons why doctors prescribe Gabapentin over more established medications. The first reason is that not all improve with older and established medications. The second is that some people can not deal with the side effects of the other drugs.

How much does Gabapentin cost?

According to drugstore.com: (these figures are the cost per tablet of 100 generic Gabapentin tablets.)

  • 100 mg: $ 1.05.
  • 300 mg: $ 1.32.
  • 400 mg: $ 2.20.
  • 600 mg: $ 3.50.
  • 800 mg: $ 7,99.

How should I keep Gabapentin?

  • Tablets and capsules should be stored between 15 C and 30 C (59 F to 86 F).
  • The Gabapentin solution should be refrigerated between 2 C and 8 C (36 F to 46 F).

Is Gabapentin available in countries other than the United States?

Yes. Gabapentina is available in more than 40 countries.

Precautions

It the probable that there are no severe effects and addiction due to its low addictive potential. However, it produces withdrawal symptoms, an essential aspect of physical dependence.

Treatment for Gabapentin addiction will likely be a more complex process than treating addiction to other substances because the person is probably addicted to other narcotics at the same time. However, as with any drug, recovery from addiction is always possible.