Pronunciation: GAB-a-PEN-tin
Generic Name: Gabapentin
Brand Name: Gralise
Gabapentin is used for:
Treating nerve pain caused by shingles. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Gabapentin is an analgesic for neuropathic (nerve) pain. Exactly how it works to treat nerve pain is not known.
Do NOT use Gabapentin if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Gabapentin
- you have severe kidney problems or are on dialysis
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Gabapentin:
Some medical conditions may interact with Gabapentin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have kidney problems
- if you have a history of seizures, mental or mood problems (eg, depression), or suicidal thoughts or actions
Tell your health care provider if you are taking any medicines, especially any of the following:
- Morphine or naproxen because they may increase the risk of Gabapentin's side effects, including drowsiness
- Hydrocodone because its effectiveness may be decreased by Gabapentin
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Gabapentin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Gabapentin:
Use Gabapentin as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Gabapentin comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Gabapentin refilled.
- Take Gabapentin by mouth with the evening meal, unless directed otherwise by your doctor.
- Swallow Gabapentin whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
- Do not take an antacid that has aluminum or magnesium in it within 2 hours before you take Gabapentin.
- Gabapentin works best if it is taken at the same time each day.
- Do not suddenly stop taking Gabapentin. You may experience side effects such as anxiety, insomnia, nausea, pain, and sweating. Patients with seizure disorder may also experience increased seizures. If you need to stop Gabapentin or add a new medicine, your doctor will gradually lower your dose.
- If you miss a dose of Gabapentin, take it with food as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Gabapentin.
Important safety information:
- Gabapentin may cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Gabapentin with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Check with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are taking Gabapentin; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
- Do not change your dose of Gabapentin without checking with your doctor.
- Do not switch between Gabapentin and other gabapentin products without first checking with your doctor.
- Patients who take Gabapentin may be at increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. The risk may be greater in patients who have had suicidal thoughts or actions in the past. Watch patients who take Gabapentin closely. Contact the doctor at once if new, worsened, or sudden symptoms, such as depressed mood; anxious, restless, or irritable behavior; panic attacks; or any unusual change in mood or behavior occur. Contact the doctor right away if any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions occur.
- Diabetes patients - Gabapentin may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
- Gabapentin may interfere with certain lab tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are taking Gabapentin.
- Lab tests, including kidney function, may be performed while you use Gabapentin. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Gabapentin with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially swelling of the hands, legs, or feet.
- Gabapentin should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of taking Gabapentin while you are pregnant. Gabapentin is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you take Gabapentin, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Gabapentin:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; tiredness.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); behavior changes; confusion; difficult or painful urination; fever; memory problems; new or worsening mental or mood changes (eg, depression, agitation, anxiety, panic attacks, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, irritability, hostility, exaggerated feeling of well-being, restlessness, inability to sit still); new or worsening trouble sleeping; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe headache or dizziness; suicidal thoughts or actions; swelling of the hands, legs, or feet.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Gabapentin side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include diarrhea; double vision; drowsiness; sluggishness; slurred speech.
Proper storage of Gabapentin:
Store Gabapentin at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Gabapentin out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Gabapentin, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Gabapentin is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Gabapentin. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Gabapentin resources
- Gabapentin Side Effects (in more detail)
- Gabapentin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Gabapentin Drug Interactions
- Gabapentin Support Group
- 298 Reviews for Gabapentin - Add your own review/rating
Compare Gabapentin with other medications
- Alcohol Withdrawal
- Anxiety
- Benign Essential Tremor
- Bipolar Disorder
- Burning Mouth Syndrome
- Diabetic Nerve Damage
- Epilepsy
- Erythromelalgia
- Fibromyalgia
- Hiccups
- Hot Flashes
- Hyperhidrosis
- Insomnia
- Migraine
- Nausea/Vomiting, Chemotherapy Induced
- Pain
- Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Persisting Pain, Shingles
- Postmenopausal Symptoms
- Pruritus
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
- Restless Legs Syndrome
- Spondylolisthesis
- Syringomyelia
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Vulvodynia
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