Neurontin (gabapentin) is in a class of drugs known as gabapentinoids, used primarily to treat seizure disorders and chronic nerve pain. They work by slowing down impulses in certain nerves.
Gabapentin is Prescribed for:
- Diabetic Neuropathy: High sugar levels and poor oxygenation due to blood vessel damage in diabetes cause nerve damage. Pain is frequently a problem in a “stocking-glove” distribution, affecting the hands, arms, legs, and feet.
- Postherpetic Neuralgia: Herpes zoster, or shingles, is caused by the virus responsible for chickenpox. The virus lives in the nervous system for many years after all signs and symptoms of chickenpox have passed. The pain is distributed in a semicircle from the back to the abdomen or chest.
- Fibromyalgia: This poorly understood condition, in which pain is frequently seen in the neck, upper and lower back, and limbs, affects the way the brain and spinal cord process pain.
- Restless Leg Syndrome: Restless legs can keep patients awake. After 7 days of treatment with gabapentin, however, the legs become less active, and patients can rest.
- Migraine Headaches: Gabapentin is sometimes used off-label to prevent migraine attacks.
- Alcohol Withdrawal: Neurontin is used to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms and convulsions in patients withdrawing from alcohol.
- Seizures: Gabapentin has proven to be highly effective for complex partial seizures, in which awareness is partially impaired, or simple partial seizures, in which awareness is normal This effectiveness should instill confidence in its use.
Side Effects of Gabapentin
- Sleepiness
- Poor coordination
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
- Ankle swelling
- Fever
- Viral infection
- Double vision
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth
- Irritability
- Tremor
Gabapentin Dosage
Gabapentin dosage varies depending on the condition being treated and the individual patient. The typical starting dose is 200 to 300 mg, taken two to three times per day by mouth.
This dose can be increased to a maximum of 2,400 to 3,600 mg per day, as determined by your healthcare provider.
Is Gabapentin a Controlled Substance?
Like many prescription medications, gabapentin is misused by a small group of people recreationally, and some states responded by making it a controlled substance. Given the restrictions, telemedicine services generally can only prescribe a month’s supply of gabapentin online.If you have one of the above conditions or need a gabapentin refill, QuickMD can help. We prescribe gabapentin online—from the convenience of your home.
