Gabapentin: What Should  I Tell My Healthcare Provider? 

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking gabapentin (Neurontin®) if you have: 

• Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure) 
• Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives. 

• Pregnant  or thinking of becoming pregnant 
• Breastfeeding.  

Make sure to  tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including  prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. 

Specific Precautions and Warnings With Gabapentin 
Warnings and precautions  to be aware of prior to taking gabapentin include  the following:

• The medication can cause emotional or behavioral problems, particularly  in children. This may include hostility, hyperactivity, concentration problems,  and other behavioral problems. Let  your healthcare provider know  if you notice any such changes in your child that  are possibly due to  gabapentin.
• As with most seizure medications, stopping gabapentin too quickly can increase  your risk of seizures and other problems . 
• The medication increases the risk of certain cancers in rats. It is not known  if gabapentin increases the risk of cancer in humans. 
• Make sure that  you know how gabapentin affects you before driving  or operating any machinery, as it can cause drowsiness and dizziness. In general,  you should avoid alcohol  while taking gabapentin, due to the risk of increasing drowsiness. 
• Gabapentin can cause vision problems, especially blurred vision or double vision. Let your healthcare provider know  if you notice any vision problems while  taking it.
• Let your healthcare provider  know if  you have kidney disease, as  you may need a lower gabapentin dosage.
• Gabapentin can interact with other medications. 
• Gabapentin is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that it may not be safe for pregnant women, although the full risks  are not known. Talk  to your healthcare provider about the risks  and benefits of  taking the drug while pregnant. 
• Gabapentin passes through breast milk. Therefore, if  you are breastfeeding  or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug. 
• Early evidence suggests  that seizure medications, including gabapentin, may increase  the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. 

Who Should Not Take Gabapentin? 

You should not take gabapentin  if you are allergic to gabapentin, Neurontin, or any inactive components used to make gabapentin. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist has  a list of the inactive ingredients.
  
Precautions and Warnings With Gabapentin: Final Thoughts 

There are a number of situations in which gabapentin should not be taken, along with several precautions and warnings people should be aware of before taking  the drug.  However, it is possible that not all of  the warnings or precautions were discussed in this article. Therefore, you should talk with your healthcare provider about  the specific precautions and warnings with gabapentin that may apply  to you.