Data from U. According to the FDA, there have been reports of oral overdoses from taking up to 49 grams of the drug. Gabapentin can interact with other prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins , and herbal supplements. People should be sure to give a doctor a full list of their current medications and supplements before taking gabapentin. The results of another review suggest that the following are some of the main substances that interact with the drug:.
If gabapentin causes sleepiness, a person should speak with a doctor before taking other medications that can also cause drowsiness, including:.
To ensure that gabapentin is safe to take, a person should tell a doctor if they also currently have or have ever had:. People who are pregnant and those who intend to become pregnant should tell a doctor before taking gabapentin. Research from suggests that taking this drug during pregnancy may be associated with a higher risk of cardiac malformations in the fetus, a condition called small for gestational age, and preterm birth.
However, it is also essential to control seizures during pregnancy, so pregnant people should only take the drug if it is absolutely necessary. People should never start or stop taking gabapentin for seizure control before talking with a doctor.
They will assess the potential risks and benefits. After childbirth, gabapentin passes into breast milk. At low levels, it may not affect the infant. However, it is best to discuss this issue with a doctor before breastfeeding. People with gabapentin allergies should not take this drug. Also, the medication may contain other ingredients that can trigger allergy symptoms in some people.
For this reason, people should discuss all drug and food allergies with a doctor before taking gabapentin. It is important to seek emergency medical treatment if symptoms of a severe allergic reaction occur.
These may include :. Because gabapentin can cause drowsiness, anyone taking this drug should exercise caution while driving or using machinery. People should also avoid alcohol or limit their intake of alcohol while taking gabapentin, as there is a risk of adverse reactions. The number of daily doses, the hours that pass between those doses, and how long a person takes gabapentin will vary among individuals.
A person should take some forms of gabapentin with food, but for other forms, this is not necessary. Anyone who receives a prescription for the Horizant brand of gabapentin for RLS should take it only during the evening or at night. Some brands and dosages require a person to break the tablets in half. Always use the other half with the next dose or as soon as possible.
Never break or chew extended-release gabapentin tablets. People should always swallow these whole. It is vital to take only the recommended dosage of gabapentin and not to continue using it for longer than a doctor prescribes.
Your body may get rid of this drug more slowly. Your doctor may start you on a lower dose so that too much of this drug does not build up in your body. Too much of the drug in your body can be dangerous.
Your doctor may change your dose based on how well your kidneys are working. Typical starting dosage: mg per day mg, three times per day, spaced evenly throughout the day. Your doctor may increase your dose to 2,—3, mg per day.
The usual maintenance dose is —1, mg per day, divided into three doses daily. Your doctor may increase this dose to 2,—3, mg per day.
Kidney problems: If you are older than 12 years and have kidney problems or are on hemodialysis, your dose of gabapentin will need to be changed. This will be based on how well your kidneys are working. Gabapentin oral capsule comes with several warnings. Call your doctor if you start having more seizures or a different kind of seizure while taking this drug. Gabapentin can slow your thinking and motor skills and cause drowsiness and dizziness. You should not drive or use heavy machinery while taking this drug until you know how it affects you.
Using this drug increases your risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Talk to your doctor if you feel depressed or notice any changes in your mood or behavior. Also talk to your doctor if you are having thoughts of harming yourself, including suicide. This medication can cause multiorgan hypersensitivity. This syndrome can be life-threatening. Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as a rash, a fever, or swollen lymph nodes. Taking it a second time after any allergic reaction to it could be fatal cause death.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking gabapentin. Gabapentin can cause sleepiness, and drinking alcohol can make you even more sleepy. Alcohol can also make you more likely to feel dizzy and have trouble concentrating. Severe breathing problems can occur if you take gabapentin with opioids, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone.
Taking gabapentin with an opioid increases your risk for sleepiness, breathing problems, and even death. Get help right away if breathing problems occur. Doing this can increase your risk of having a condition called status epilepticus. This is a medical emergency during which short or long seizures occur for 30 minutes or more. Gabapentin can cause problems in children aged 3—12 years who have epilepsy.
It raises their risk of thought problems as well as behavioral problems, such as being hyper and acting hostile or restless. For people with kidney problems: Your body processes this drug more slowly than normal. This may cause the drug to increase to dangerous levels in your body. Talk to your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you.
For pregnant women: The use of gabapentin has not been studied in humans during pregnancy. Research in animals has shown negative effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug.
This drug should only be used if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking this drug. This registry tracks the effects of anti-seizure drugs on pregnancy. Information can be found at aedpregnancyregistry.
For women who are breastfeeding: Gabapentin may pass into breast milk and cause serious side effects in a breastfeeding child. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should decide together if you should stop taking this drug or stop breastfeeding.
For seniors: Kidney function may decrease with age. You may process this drug more slowly than younger people. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose so that too much of this drug does not build up in your body. For children: Gabapentin has not been studied in children for the management of postherpetic neuralgia.
It should not be used in people younger than 18 years. This drug should not be used to treat partial seizures in children younger than 3 years. Gabapentin oral capsule is used for short-term or long-term treatment. In order for this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.
If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:.
If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you remember just a few hours before the time for your next dose, then only take one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two capsules at once. Seek emergency medical attention if you have very slow breathing.
Some people have thoughts about suicide or behavior changes while taking gabapentin. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you.
Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries. Gabapentin is used together with other medicines to treat partial seizures in adults and children at least 3 years old. Gabapentin is also used to treat nerve pain caused by herpes virus or shingles herpes zoster in adults. 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. Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking this medicine. Children taking gabapentin may have behavior changes. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Seizure control is very important during pregnancy, and having a seizure could harm both mother and baby.
Do not start or stop taking gabapentin for seizures without your doctor's advice, and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
If your doctor changes your brand, strength, or type of gabapentin, your dosage needs may change. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the new kind of gabapentin you receive at the pharmacy. The Horizant brand of gabapentin should not be taken during the day.
For best results, take Horizant with food at about in the evening. If you break a Neurontin 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. Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device not a kitchen spoon. Do not stop using gabapentin suddenly , even if you feel fine.
Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose. This medicine can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using gabapentin. Store gabapentin tablets and capsules at room temperature away from light and moisture. Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose.
Do not take two doses at one time. If you take Horizant: Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses of Horizant at one time. Your reactions could be impaired. Avoid taking an antacid within 2 hours before or after you take gabapentin. Antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb gabapentin.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction : 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, upper stomach pain, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor , such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive mentally or physically , depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Gabapentin can cause life-threatening breathing problems. 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.
Breathing problems may be more likely in older adults or in people with COPD. Some side effects are more likely in children taking gabapentin. Contact your doctor if the child taking this medicine has any of the following side effects:. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Using gabapentin with other drugs that slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, cold or allergy medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures. Other drugs may affect gabapentin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise.
Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient.
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