Gabapentin belongs to a class of drugs called anticonvulsants. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. You may break the scored Neurontin® gabapentin oral uses and side effects tablets into 2 pieces, but make sure you use the second half of the tablet as the next dose. Do not use the half-tablet if the whole tablet has been cut or broken after 28 days.

Missed Dose

• This medication can cause multiorgan hypersensitivity.
• Gabapentin can cause problems in children aged 3–12 years who have epilepsy.
• Seizures are caused by electrical activity in the brain that is not normal.
• Do not share gabapentin with other people, even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not stop taking gabapentin without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping gabapentin suddenly can cause side effects, including seizures. If you need to stop taking gabapentin, your healthcare provider will give you instructions on how to stop the medicine. Gabapentin can cause allergic reactions, including DRESS, which can be serious. DRESS stands for Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms.

Drug Interactions

Check with your physician for additional information about side effects. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you. Do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to do so. If you use a dipstick to test your urine for protein, ask your doctor which product you should use while taking this medication. Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.

• Different interactions can cause different effects.
• Gabapentin may interact with other medicines and supplements.
• Ask your healthcare provider when you can drive or do other activities.
• Extended release formulation (Gralise) not studied in the treatment of seizures.

Health News

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Gabapentin is a prescription drug most commonly prescribed to relieve nerve pain following shingles in adults, treating the pain of post herpetic neuralgia. Gabapentin belongs to a class of drugs known as anti-seizure drugs. Drinking alcohol with gabapentin could increase sleepiness or dizziness. The branded gabapentin products Neurontin and Gralise are approved for partial seizures and PHN. The branded gabapentin enacarbil product Horizant is approved for restless legs syndrome and PHN.

Is gabapentin a narcotic or controlled substance?

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of gabapentin for treating postherpetic neuralgia in children. If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice. Although gabapentin is only licensed for use in epilepsy and neuropathic pain, it is also prescribed to help to prevent attacks of migraine.

Use the other half-tablet as part of your next dose. Properly dispose of any half-tablets that you have not used within several days of breaking them. If this happens, you’ll have withdrawal symptoms after you stop taking the medicine.

Never try to catch up by taking two capsules at once. If your doctor decides to reduce your dose or have you stop taking gabapentin, they will do this slowly. Your dose will be reduced or your treatment stopped over the course of at least one week.

More common in children

These may be symptoms of a serious and life-threatening allergic reaction called drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) or multiorgan hypersensitivity. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you.

If you have a neurological condition, you want expert advice. At Cleveland Clinic, we’ll work to create a treatment plan that’s right for you. Don’t drive, operate heavy machinery or do other dangerous activities after taking gabapentin until you know how it affects you. Gabapentin is available as both a brand name product and a generic product (chemically the same, usually lower cost than the brand name product).

This can happen while you are taking this medication or after stopping it. Talk to your care team right away if you have changes in mood or behavior or thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. The risk for serious problems such as severe dizziness and sleepiness may be increased if you drink alcohol while taking gabapentin. The most common side effects of gabapentin are listed below.

Measure the oral liquid using a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

It is also sometimes called multiorgan hypersensitivity. This is a reaction that can affect multiple parts of the body, including your liver, kidneys, and heart. Stop taking gabapentin and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction. This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert).