What is gabapentin? 

Gabapentin is an anti-epileptic medication, also called an anticonvulsant. It affects chemicals and nerves in the body that are involved in the cause of seizures and some types of pain. 

Gabapentin is used alone or in combination with other medications  to treat  seizures caused by epilepsy  in adults and children  who are at least 12 years old.  Gabapentin is also used with other  medications to treat partial  seizures in children who are 3 to 12 years old. 

Gabapentin is also used to treat nerve  pain caused  by herpes virus or shingles (herpes zoster). 

Gabapentin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide. 

Important information about gabapentin 

You  should not use  this medication if you are allergic to gabapentin. 

Before taking gabapentin, tell your doctor if you have kidney, liver, or heart disease. 

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking gabapentin. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments. 

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. 

Do not stop taking gabapentin for seizures without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel better. You may have increased seizures if you stop taking this medicine suddenly. You will need to use less  and less before you stop the medication completely. 

Contact your doctor if your seizures get worse or you have them more often while taking gabapentin. 

Carry  an ID card or wear  a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking gabapentin, in case  of emergency. Any doctor, dentist,  or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are taking a seizure medication. 

Before taking gabapentin 

You should not use  this medication if you are allergic to gabapentin. 

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take gabapentin. 

• kidney disease; 
• liver disease; or 
• Heart disease. 

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking gabapentin. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during  the first several months of treatment, or whenever  your dose is changed. 

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in  your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need  to check you at regular visits. Do not miss  any scheduled appointments. 

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether gabapentin is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if  you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Gabapentin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do  not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. 

How should I take gabapentin? 

Take gabapentin exactly as it was prescribed for you.  Do not take the medication in larger amounts,  or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. 

Gabapentin can be taken with or without food. 

If you break  a tablet and take one 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 with  a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon.  If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask  your pharmacist for one. 

Gabapentin can cause you  to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats  you that you are using this medicine. 

Do not stop taking gabapentin for seizures  without first talking to your doctor, even if  you feel better. You  may have increased seizures if  you stop taking gabapentin suddenly. You will need  to use less and less before  you stop the medication completely. Contact your doctor if your  seizures get worse or you have them  more often while taking  this medicine.

Carry an ID card  or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking gabapentin,  in case  of emergency. Any doctor, dentist,  or emergency medical care provider  who treats you should know that you are taking a seizure medication. 

It is important  to use gabapentin regularly  for best seizure control. Get  your prescription refilled before you run  out of medicine completely.

Store gabapentin tablets and capsules at room temperature away from light  and moisture.  Store the liquid medicine in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. 

What happens if I miss a dose? 

Take  the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it  is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine  at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. 

What happens if I overdose? 

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. 

Overdose symptoms may include blurred vision, drowsiness, weakness,  slurred speech, or diarrhea. 

What should I avoid while taking gabapentin? 

Gabapentin can cause side effects that may impair  your vision or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything  that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly. 

Avoid  taking an antacid within 2 hours before or after you take  gabapentin. Antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb gabapentin. 

Gabapentin side effects 

Get emergency medical help if  you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction  to gabapentin: hives; fever; swollen glands; painful sores in or around  your eyes or mouth; difficulty breathing; swelling of  your face, lips, tongue, or throat. 

Call  your doctor at once if you have  any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if  you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or  have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. 

Call  your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
increased seizures; 

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; 
• swelling of your ankles or feet; 
• confusion;
• rapid back and forth movement of your eyes; 
• tremor; or 
• easy bruising. 

Some side effects are more likely in children taking gabapentin. Contact your doctor if the child taking this medication has any of the following side effects: 

• changes in behavior; 
• memory problems; 
• trouble concentrating; or 
• acting restless, hostile, or aggressive. 

Less serious gabapentin side effects may include: 

• dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, tired feeling; 
• lack of coordination; 
• blurred vision; 
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite; 
• diarrhea, constipation; 
• dry mouth; 
• runny or stuffy nose, sore throat; 
• headache; 
• sleep problems (insomnia), unusual dreams; or 
• acne, mild skin rash. 

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA 

What other drugs will affect gabapentin? 

The following drugs can interact with gabapentin. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these: 

• hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin, Vicoprofen, and others); 
• morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Oramorph, and others); or 
• naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox, and others). 

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with gabapentin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. 

Where can I get more information? 

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about gabapentin. 
• 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. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. 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. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. 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. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. 

Notes: Dr. Nelson Crumfield

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EditText of this page (last edited June 12, 2010)