You’re at higher risk if you already have breathing problems. Get help right away if breathing problems occur. If you are older than 12 years and have kidney problems or are on hemodialysis, your dose of gabapentin will need to be changed.
Exactly how it does this is not fully understood. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication for your condition. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do. You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling. Very few people taking gabapentin have serious problems. If you're having problems with your memory, speak to your doctor.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms. Gabapentin may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function during your treatment with this drug. If your kidneys aren’t working well, your doctor may lower your dosage of this drug. Gabapentin can cause sleepiness, and drinking alcohol can make you even more sleepy. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.
It may also help if you do not eat rich or spicy food. As your body gets used to gabapentin, these side effects should wear off. gabapentin oral uses and side effects If they do not wear off within a week or two, your doctor may reduce your dose or increase it more slowly.
If you have any concerns or questions, be sure to call your healthcare provider or pharmacist right away. Taking gabapentin alongside opioid medicines such as codeine and morphine can increase the risk of serious side-effects including breathing difficulties and loss of consciousness. You should avoid these combinations of medicines if possible. This medication can cause new or worsening depression and increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in a small number of people.
Taking gabapentin 2 hours after taking these drugs can help prevent this problem. When used with gabapentin, opioids can cause dangerous effects in the body. Some examples of these drugs include morphine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. Below is a list of medications that can interact with gabapentin.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call FDA-1088. These are not all the side effects of gabapentin. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. When you stop taking gabapentin, you'll need to reduce your dose gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Do not stop taking gabapentin without talking to your doctor.
The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.
Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking gabapentin. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe. Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label.
Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. For more information on the possible side effects of gabapentin or tips on how to deal with a troubling side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not stop taking except on your care team's advice. Some forms of gabapentin need to be taken with food. If you are unsure whether or not to take your medicine with food, ask your healthcare provider. For example, people who experience nerve pain may have the option to “step up” to pregabalin (Lyrica) if treatment with gabapentin doesn’t suffice.
Talk to your provider about medications you currently take to avoid drug interaction. These medications should be taken at evenly spaced times throughout the day and night; no more than 12 hours should pass between doses. The extended-release tablet (Horizant) is taken with food once daily at about 5 PM.
Gabapentin belongs to a group of medicines known as anti-epileptic medicines, although it is prescribed for the treatment of several different conditions. You may have been prescribed it for the treatment of partial seizures, which are a type of epilepsy. A seizure is a short episode of symptoms which is caused by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. With a partial seizure, the burst of electrical activity stays in one part of the brain. Therefore, you tend to have localised or 'focal' symptoms. Gabapentin is used to control the symptoms of seizures and works by reducing the abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
If you have been given it for this reason then you should speak with your doctor if you have any questions about your treatment. Gabapentin is also prescribed to treat certain types of long-lasting pain caused by damage to nerves. This type of pain, called neuropathic pain, can be caused by a number of different diseases. These include diabetes (where it is called diabetic neuropathy) and shingles (where it is called postherpetic neuralgia).
