Severe breathing problems can occur if you take gabapentin with opioids, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone. Taking gabapentin with an opioid increases your risk for sleepiness, breathing problems, and even death. Get help right away if breathing problems occur. Doing this can increase your risk of having a condition called status epilepticus. This is a medical emergency during which short or long seizures occur for 30 minutes or more.
Gabapentin can cause problems in children aged 3—12 years who have epilepsy. It raises their risk of thought problems as well as behavioral problems, such as being hyper and acting hostile or restless. For people with kidney problems: Your body processes this drug more slowly than normal. This may cause the drug to increase to dangerous levels in your body. Talk to your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you. For pregnant women: The use of gabapentin has not been studied in humans during pregnancy.
Research in animals has shown negative effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug. This drug should only be used if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking this drug. This registry tracks the effects of anti-seizure drugs on pregnancy. Information can be found at aedpregnancyregistry. For women who are breastfeeding: Gabapentin may pass into breast milk and cause serious side effects in a breastfeeding child.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should decide together if you should stop taking this drug or stop breastfeeding.
For seniors: Kidney function may decrease with age. You may process this drug more slowly than younger people. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose so that too much of this drug does not build up in your body. For children: Gabapentin has not been studied in children for the management of postherpetic neuralgia.
It should not be used in people younger than 18 years. This drug should not be used to treat partial seizures in children younger than 3 years. Gabapentin oral capsule is used for short-term or long-term treatment. In order for this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.
If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:. If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember.
If you remember just a few hours before the time for your next dose, then only take one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two capsules at once.
This could result in dangerous side effects. How to tell if the drug is working: You should have fewer seizures. Or you should have less nerve pain. Gabapentin oral capsules can be taken with or without food. Taking them with food can help to reduce upset stomach. A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription.
Kidney function. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function during your treatment with this drug. Mental health and behavioral problems. You and your doctor should watch for any changes in your behavior and mood. This drug can cause new mental health and behavior problems. It may also worsen problems you already have. Many insurance companies require a prior authorization for gabapentin. This means your doctor will need to get approval from your insurance company before your insurance company will pay for the prescription.
There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date.
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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Request Appointment. Neurontin side effects: How do I manage them? Products and services. The brand-name drug Neurontin can treat one form of epilepsy in children as young as 3 years old.
Some people take other medications with gabapentin to control epilepsy symptoms. Gabapentin can also help reduce post-herpetic neuralgia, which refers to a burning or stabbing nerve pain that is a common complication of shingles.
According to one review, oral gabapentin can reduce moderate or severe nerve pain that results from shingles or diabetes at a minimum daily dosage of 1, milligrams. Extended-release gabapentin Horizant tablets can treat RLS , which is a condition characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the legs and a strong or irresistible urge to move the lower limbs.
A study also suggests that gabapentin combined with oxycontin, which is an opioid pain reliever, can help control pain and increase the quality of life for people with severe cancer pain.
However, doctors do not typically prescribe gabapentin for this purpose. Gabapentin can cause mild side effects. According to the review, these effects were slightly more common in people taking gabapentin than a placebo. Children and older adults may be more susceptible to adverse reactions associated with gabapentin. Individuals taking gabapentin should talk with a doctor about any problems they experience while doing so, especially if they are severe, ongoing, or getting worse.
In , the Food and Drug Administration FDA issued a warning that people with respiratory risk factors who take the different brands of gabapentin may experience serious breathing difficulties. People who have conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma should speak with a doctor before taking gabapentin.
Studies suggest that some people may experience thoughts of suicide or exhibit suicidal behaviors when taking gabapentin or other anticonvulsants. If a person or their loved one notices any changes in their mood or behavior, they should contact a doctor immediately. Despite research in this area, it is not always clear whether suicidal behaviors in people who take gabapentin are a result of the drug itself or related to an existing mental health condition.
It is clear, however, that the risk of overdose from the drug is higher if a person also has a mental health condition such as depression. In addition, when taking gabapentin, a person should monitor themselves carefully to make sure that they are not accidentally taking the wrong dosage.
People should also check on loved ones and minors taking this medication and seek help if there is any concern that they may have suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Data from U. According to the FDA, there have been reports of oral overdoses from taking up to 49 grams of the drug.
Gabapentin can interact with other prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins , and herbal supplements. People should be sure to give a doctor a full list of their current medications and supplements before taking gabapentin. The results of another review suggest that the following are some of the main substances that interact with the drug:. If gabapentin causes sleepiness, a person should speak with a doctor before taking other medications that can also cause drowsiness, including:.
To ensure that gabapentin is safe to take, a person should tell a doctor if they also currently have or have ever had:.
People who are pregnant and those who intend to become pregnant should tell a doctor before taking gabapentin. Research from suggests that taking this drug during pregnancy may be associated with a higher risk of cardiac malformations in the fetus, a condition called small for gestational age, and preterm birth.
However, it is also essential to control seizures during pregnancy, so pregnant people should only take the drug if it is absolutely necessary. People should never start or stop taking gabapentin for seizure control before talking with a doctor.
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