You should store the Neurontin® oral liquid in the refrigerator. Only use the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

If these side effects are especially bothersome, check with your doctor. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of gabapentin in the elderly.

Serious allergic reaction

• Talk to your care team right away if you have fevers or flu-like symptoms with a rash.
• Inform your providers of all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter, as well as supplements, vitamins and herbal products.
• If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.
• Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. If you are taking gabapentin to treat PHN, tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve during your treatment. Gabapentin comes as a capsule, a tablet, an extended-release (long-acting) tablet, and an oral solution (liquid) to take by mouth. Gabapentin capsules, tablets, and oral solution are usually taken with a full glass of water (8 ounces 240 milliliters), with or without food, three times a day. Taking this medication with other CNS depressants can make you too sleepy. This can make it hard to breathe and stay awake.

This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter OTC) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. Gabapentin works in the brain to prevent seizures and relieve pain for certain conditions in the nervous system. It is not used for routine pain caused by minor injuries or arthritis. Use gabapentin with caution if benefits outweigh risks in pregnancy. Animal studies show risk and human studies are not yet available or neither animal nor human studies have been done.

This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with gabapentin. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 3 years of age.

Ask your healthcare provider when you can drive or do other activities. Gabapentin oral tablets and oral capsules should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C), for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. If you think you’ve taken an overdose of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center.

Can I drink alcohol while taking gabapentin?

This means you may need to take it with other drugs. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our non-profit mission. Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

More common in children

Tell your healthcare provider if you develop severe sleepiness, especially when you start gabapentin or when your dose is increased. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other gabapentin oral uses and side effects types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Serious breathing problems can happen if you take gabapentin with drugs that cause severe sleepiness or decreased awareness.

• This will be based on how well your kidneys are working.
• Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.
• Gabapentin is also prescribed to treat certain types of long-lasting pain caused by damage to nerves.
• Some gabapentin tablets should not be chewed, cut, or crushed.
• Talk to your care team about all the medications, vitamins, and supplements you take.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Taking gabapentin with an opioid increases your risk for sleepiness, breathing problems, and even death. Don’t take this drug again if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it before. Taking it a second time after any allergic reaction to it could be fatal (cause death). Gabapentin oral capsule comes with several warnings. Call your doctor if you start having more seizures or a different kind of seizure while taking this drug. Some examples of these drugs include aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide.

Gabapentin is a prescription medication known as a gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue. GABA reduces the excitability of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, which play a role in seizures and the transmission of pain signals. Gabapentin mirrors the effects of GABA calming excited neurons.

Make sure your reactions are normal before you drive and before you use tools or machines. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Swallow the extended-release tablets whole; do not cut, chew, or crush them. Gabapentin can make you hungrier, so it can be hard to stop yourself putting on weight. Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet without increasing your portion sizes.

Gabapentin is an oral capsule sold under the brand name Neurontin or as a lower-priced generic drug. It’s primarily used to treat partial seizures in adults and children. It’s also used to treat nerve pain caused by a shingles infection. For patients with epilepsy who take gabapentin three times per day, do not allow more than 12 hours to pass between any 2 doses. The medicine works best if a constant amount is in the blood.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using gabapentin?

It may also be used to prevent and control seizures in people with epilepsy. It works by calming overactive nerves in your body. This will help them determine if gabapentin is right for you.

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

Take small sips of water or other fluids to avoid dehydration. Do not take any other medicines to treat vomiting without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Be sure that you receive only the type of gabapentin that was prescribed by your doctor. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the type of gabapentin you were given. Drink plenty of water or other fluids to avoid dehydration.