gabapentin
Brand names: Gabapentin
# Gabapentin: What You Need to Know Gabapentin is a medicine used to treat nerve pain, especially pain caused by shingles (a painful skin rash). It can also be used to help control certain types of seizures in people with epilepsy. This medication works by calming overactive nerves in your body that send pain signals to your brain. Doctors may prescribe it when other treatments haven't worked well enough or when patients need extra help managing their symptoms. Since gabapentin affects your nervous system, it's important to use it safely. You should never suddenly stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor first. Be very careful if you're also taking painkillers called opioids (like morphine or hydrocodone), because together they can cause serious breathing problems and drowsiness that could be dangerous. Common side effects include dizziness, tiredness, and trouble with coordination, so don't drive or operate machinery until you know how the medicine affects you. Always take gabapentin exactly as your doctor prescribes, and tell your doctor about all other medicines you're taking to avoid harmful interactions.
Known Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Concentrations increased by morphine; may need dose adjustment (5.4, 7.1 ) 7.1 Opioids Respiratory depression and sedation, sometimes resulting in death, have been reported following coadministration of gabapentin with opioids (e.g., morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, buprenorphine) [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ]. Hydrocodone Coadministration of gabapentin with hydrocodone decreases hydrocodone exposure [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. The potential for alteration in hydrocodone exposure and effect should be considered when gabapentin is started or discontinued in a patient taking hydrocodone. Morphine When gabapentin is administered with morphine, patients should be observed for signs of CNS depression, such as somnolence, sedation and respiratory depression [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 7.2 Other Antiepileptic Drugs Gabapentin is not appreciably metabolized nor does it interfere with the metabolism of commonly coadministered antiepileptic drugs
Source: FDA-approved drug labeling via openFDA
Most Reported Side Effects (FAERS)
- DRUG INEFFECTIVE29,096 reports
- FATIGUE24,479 reports
- NAUSEA22,031 reports
- PAIN20,813 reports
- OFF LABEL USE19,092 reports
- DIARRHOEA17,503 reports
- HEADACHE17,377 reports
- DIZZINESS16,088 reports
- FALL15,226 reports
- DYSPNOEA13,783 reports
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Voluntary reports do not establish causation.
Check interactions with gabapentin:
SafeCheck provides drug interaction information from FDA-approved product labeling (openFDA). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making medication decisions.