Author: John Carter
Gabapentin: Uses, Side Effects, Dosages, Interactions & More
Learn what side effects to watch for, drugs to avoid while taking gabapentin, how to take gabapentin and other important questions and answers. Gabapentin is available in both branded and generic forms. Ask your doctor before using acetaminophen together with ethanol.
Rare but serious side effects
- Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
- Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using gabapentin.
- Ask your doctor before using acetaminophen together with ethanol.
- She has over 10 years experience as a pharmacist in the retail and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) settings.
- Your doctor may want you or your child to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping it completely.
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, especially in the first few months if you have epilepsy. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. You should store the Neurontin® oral liquid in the refrigerator. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
Gabapentin oral tablets and oral capsules should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C), for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Gabapentin may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider. Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.
What Are Common Drug Interactions?
Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking seizure medicine. Children taking gabapentin may have behavior changes. Your family or caregivers should also watch for sudden changes in your behavior.
The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. Gabapentin works in the brain to prevent seizures and relieve pain for certain conditions in the nervous system. It is not used for routine pain caused by minor injuries or arthritis. Enter other medications to view a detailed interaction report. This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using gabapentin.
Health Writer
When a medication works right, it boosts your health or helps you feel better. But a drug can bring on problems if it doesn’t mix well with something else you put into your body, like another medication, a certain food, or alcohol. Sign in to your account to save this drug interaction list.
Does gabapentin interact with my other drugs?
For example, if you have two doctors and they separately prescribe drugs that interact, your pharmacist can warn them — and you — before you have a problem. Acetaminophen is usually recommended as a first line treatment for mild to moderate pain. It might be taken for pain due to a skin injury, headache, or conditions that affect the muscles and bones. Acetaminophen is often prescribed to help manage osteoarthritis and back pain.
If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 3 years of age. If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of gabapentin on the baby. 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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Seizures may increase if you stop using gabapentin suddenly. If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your healthcare provider about breastfeeding or medication options. Gabapentin is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. There are several ways that drugs can interact with one another.
This can cause serious side effects that affect your liver. If your doctor does prescribe these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take both medications. Gabapentin may cause slow and shallow breathing, especially if you have breathing problems from another condition or take other medicines that can slow your breathing. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop severe sleepiness, especially when you start gabapentin or when your dose is increased. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines.