Gabapentin 300mg | Nerve Pain Relief Capsules

Description

Gabapentin is used to treat epilepsy. It is also used for nerve pain that various medical conditions, including diabetes and shingles, can cause. Nerve pain can also occur after an injury.

In epilepsy, Gabapentin is thought to stop seizures by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Nerve pain is thought to block pain by affecting the pain signals that travel through the brain and along the spinal cord.

Gabapentin is available by prescription. It comes in tablets, capsules, and a liquid that you swallow.

Key Facts

• You usually take Gabapentin three times a day. You can take it either with food or with an empty stomach.
• Most people who take Gabapentin do not experience any side effects. However, some people may feel sleepy, tired, and dizzy.
• Gabapentin usually takes a few weeks to become effective.
• Most people do not need to continue taking the same brand of Gabapentin because there is little difference between brands.
• Some people can become dependent on Gabapentin. When you stop taking Gabapentin, you should gradually reduce your dose to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
• If you have epilepsy, you are entitled to a free prescription for all the medicines you are taking, not just the epilepsy medicines. You can get a claim form from your GP.

Who should and cannot use Gabapentin

Who can use Gabapentin

Gabapentin can be used by most adults and children aged 6 years and over.

Who should not use Gabapentin

Gabapentin is not suitable for some people.

To ensure your safety, please inform your doctor if you:

• Have an allergic reaction to Gabapentin or any other medicine
• Have ever abused or been dependent on a drug
• Are trying to get pregnant, or you are already pregnant.
• Are on a controlled sodium or potassium diet, or if your kidneys are not working correctly (gabapentin liquid contains sodium and potassium, so talk to your doctor before taking it)

How and when to take Gabapentin

Gabapentin is a prescription drug. It is essential to take it as directed by your doctor.

Dosage and Strength

Each Gabapentin capsule contains 100 mg, 300 mg, or 400 mg of Gabapentin, while each tablet contains 600 mg or 800 mg.

If you are taking Gabapentin as a liquid, 2 ml is usually the same as taking a 100 mg tablet or capsule. Always check the label.

Dosage for Epilepsy

The usual dosage for:

Adults and older children (12 years and older) are 900 mg to 3,600 mg per day, divided into three doses.

Younger children (6 to 12 years) – varies depending on weight.

Dosage for Nerve Pain

The usual dosage for treating nerve pain in adults is 900 to 3,600 mg daily, given in 3 divided doses.

Changes in your Dosage

To avoid side effects, your doctor will initially prescribe a low dose and then increase it over a few days. Once you find a dose that works for you, the dose will usually stay the same.

How to take it

Swallow Gabapentin capsules and tablets whole with a glass of water or juice. Do not chew them.

You can take Gabapentin with or without food, but it is best to take it every day.

It’s important to space your doses evenly throughout the day. For example, you can take it early in the morning, early afternoon and before bed.

If you or your child takes a liquid, a plastic syringe or spoon will be provided to measure the dose. If you don’t have one, please ask your pharmacist for assistance. Please do not use a kitchen spoon, as it will not measure the correct amount.

How long should you take it?

If you have epilepsy, you will likely need to take Gabapentin for many years once your condition is under control.

If you have nerve pain, you will need to continue taking Gabapentin Sandoz for several months or longer after the pain has gone to prevent it from coming back.

If you forget to take it

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is less than 2 hours since your next dose, it is better to skip the missed dose and take the next dose as usual.

Never take two doses at the same time. Do not take an extra dose to compensate for a missed dose.

If you have epilepsy, it is essential to take this medicine regularly. Missing doses can trigger a seizure.

If you often forget to take your medicine, it may be helpful to set an alarm to remind you. You can also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember to take your medicine.

If you take too much

Taking an excessive amount of Gabapentin can lead to uncomfortable side effects.

Contact 111 now for advice if:

• You take more than the prescribed dose of Gabapentin.
• You feel dizzy or sleepy.
• You see double
• You start to drool
• You have diarrhoea
• You faint

Stopping Gabapentin

It is essential that you do not suddenly stop taking Gabapentin, even if you feel well. Stopping Gabapentin suddenly can cause serious problems.

If you have epilepsy, suddenly stopping Gabapentin can cause seizures that won’t stop.

If you take it for any reason and suddenly stop, you may experience a severe withdrawal syndrome. This can have unpleasant symptoms, including:

• fear
• sleep disturbances
• feeling sick
• pain
• sweating

It is possible to prevent withdrawal and other symptoms by gradually reducing your dose of Gabapentin.

Do not stop taking Gabapentin without talking to your doctor – you should reduce your dose gradually.

Gabapentin Side Effects

Gabapentin, like all medications, can cause side effects; however, not everyone experiences them.

Common Side Effects

These common gabapentin side effects may affect more than 1 in 100 people. They are typically mild and resolve on their own.

Here are some strategies you can use to manage this situation:

• Feeling sleepy, tired, or dizzy
• Nausea
• Feels sick
• Diarrhea
• Mood swings
• Swollen arms and legs
• Blurred vision
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty getting an erection
• Weight gain
• Memory problems
• Headaches
• I get more infections than usual.

Serious Side Effects

Very few people who take Gabapentin have serious problems.

Call your doctor if you experience any serious side effects, including:

• Thoughts about harming or killing yourself – a small number of people taking Gabapentin have had thoughts of suicide, which can occur after as little as a week of treatment
• High temperature, swollen glands that don’t go away, yellowing of your eyes or skin (this may be less noticeable if you have brown or black skin), unusual bruising or bleeding, severe tiredness or weakness, unexpected muscle pain or weakness, with or without a rash, may be symptoms of a severe reaction.
• Persistent stomach pain, nausea or vomiting may be warning signs of pancreatitis.
• Muscle pain or weakness, and you are undergoing dialysis for kidney failure.
• Seeing things that aren’t there (hallucinations)

Serious Allergic Reaction

In rare cases, a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to Gabapentin can occur.

Call 999 now if:

• Your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly swell.
• You are breathing very quickly or have difficulty breathing (you may be gasping for air or feeling like you are choking or gasping for air)
• You may feel a tightness in your throat or experience difficulty swallowing.
• Your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be more noticeable on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• You suddenly become very confused, sleepy or dizzy.
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• A child is limp, lethargic or unresponsive (the head may fall to the side, back or forward, or it may not be easy to lift the head or concentrate on the face)
• You or the person who is sick may also have a rash that is swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or flaky.

These may be signs of a severe allergic reaction and require immediate hospital treatment.

Long-term Side Effects

Some people may become dependent on Gabapentin. In this case, withdrawal symptoms occur after stopping the medication.

When you stop taking Gabapentin, you should gradually reduce your dose to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Make sure to consult your doctor before stopping Gabapentin.

Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about physical dependence on Gabapentin.

Other Side Effects

These are not the only side effects of Gabapentin. The leaflet that comes with your medicine pack contains a complete list.

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Fertility when taking Gabapentin

Gabapentin and Pregnancy

Gabapentin is generally not recommended during pregnancy because there is not enough information about its safety for your baby.

However, due to the limited information available, there is no clear evidence that it is harmful. The medicine should only be used if its benefits outweigh any potential risks.

If you are taking Gabapentin for epilepsy, it must be treated appropriately during pregnancy because seizures can be harmful to you and your baby. Continue taking Gabapentin, but talk to your doctor immediately. They may recommend that you switch to another medicine.

If you are trying to get pregnant or have become pregnant while taking Gabapentin, it is recommended to take a high dose of folic acid (5 mg per day). This can be obtained from your doctor or midwife.

Ideally, you should take a high dose of folic acid 3 months before you try to get pregnant and for the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy. Don’t worry if you haven’t taken it before you are pregnant, but start taking it as soon as you know you are pregnant. It will help your baby grow normally.

If you take Gabapentin at the time of delivery, your baby may need extra monitoring for a few days after birth. This is because they may experience withdrawal symptoms from Gabapentin.

We don’t know what long-term effects Gabapentin may have on a baby’s learning and development during pregnancy. For safety reasons, it is generally recommended only if the medicine’s benefits outweigh the risks. Discuss the benefits and risks with your doctor.

Gabapentin and Breastfeeding

If your doctor or nurse says that your baby is healthy, you can use Gabapentin while you are breastfeeding. You must continue to take Gabapentin to maintain your health.

Gabapentin passes into breast milk in small amounts. Breastfed babies are not known to experience any side effects.

If your baby is not feeding well, seems unusually sleepy, has stomach problems, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or midwife.

Gabapentin and Fertility

There is no evidence taking Gabapentin reduces fertility in men or women. However, discuss your pregnancy plans with your doctor. They may want to review your medication and prescribe a higher dose of folic acid (5 mg per day) to take before you become pregnant.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking Gabapentin if you are trying to get pregnant.

Tell your doctor if you:

• are trying to get pregnant
• are pregnant
• are breastfeeding

Taking Gabapentin with other Medicines and Herbal Supplements

Warnings for other Medicines

Some medicines can affect how Gabapentin works or increase the risk of side effects.

Antacids can reduce the amount of Gabapentin your body absorbs, making it less effective. To avoid this, if you need to take an antacid, take it at least 2 hours before or after your gabapentin dose.

Before starting treatment with Gabapentin, tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines:

• Strong painkillers such as morphine – can cause severe tiredness and dizziness when you first start taking Gabapentin.
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline or fluoxetine
• antipsychotics for mental health problems such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
• a medicine used to prevent malaria called mefloquine

Mixing Gabapentin with Herbal Medicines or Supplements

Taking herbal medicines and supplements that can cause dizziness or drowsiness while you are taking Gabapentin may make these side effects worse.