Neurontin(A complete guide)
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Neurontin is a nerve pain medication and anticonvulsant that is used to treat seizures and pain caused by shingles.
What is Neurontin?
Neurontin is a medication used to control partial seizures and to treat epilepsy.
It cannot cure epilepsy and will only work to keep seizures at bay if it is taken continuously.
Neurontin can also be used in adults to treat postherpetic neuralgia, which is a pain that occurs after an episode of shingles.
It should not be used for routine pain that is caused by minor injuries.
This medication is available in a capsule, tablet, solution, or suspension.
Do not take Neurontin unless it is prescribed by your doctor for seizures or nerve pain caused by shingles.
What are the common side effects of Neurontin?
Neurontin may cause unwanted side effects. If any of the following symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor right away:
· Drowsiness
· Dizziness
· Fatigue
· Weakness
· Headache
· Uncontrollable shaking in a part of the body
· Double or blurry vision
· Lack of coordination (unsteadiness)
· Anxiety
· Issues with memory
· Strange or unusual thoughts
· Uncontrollable eye movements
· Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, constipation or diarrhea
· Increased appetite and weight gain
· Dry mouth
· Back or joint pain
· Fever
· Flu-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, cough, or sore throat
· Ear pain
· Red, itchy eyes that can have swelling or discharge
If you experience any of the following more serious side effects, call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention:
· Signs of an allergic reaction such as rash, itching, or swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, or eyes
· Hoarseness
· Difficulty swallowing or breathing
· Seizures
Can Neurontin be used to treat depression, mania, and anxiety?
Neurontin is not approved to be used in the treatment of mental health disorders.
There are studies in the works that are looking at how Neurontin can treat mood disorders or tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder), but faulty case studies have said that Neurontin can help patients with treatment-resistant depression and other mood disorders without unwanted side effects.
If you are experiencing anxiety, depression, or any other psychiatric disorder, do not take Neurontin or seek it out from an unreliable source.
This is very dangerous and can cause many unwanted side effects, as discussed below.
What is some important information that I should know before taking Neurontin?
If you have any allergies to medications or any foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals, it is important to let your doctor know right away before taking Neurontin.
Neurontin has not been approved to treat seizures or postherpetic neuralgia in children younger than 3 years of age.
It has not been studied whether or not Neurontin is safe for women breastfeeding or for geriatric patients.
Women who are breastfeeding should discuss with their doctors and weigh the potential benefits and risks when deciding to taking Neurontin while breastfeeding.
Elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted effects from age-related problems, so doctors must be cautious when prescribing and managing the dose of Neurontin.
Is it possible to overdose on Neurontin?
Yes, it is possible to overdose on Neurontin. Seek emergency medical help if someone you know has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or is unresponsive.
Symptoms over overdose include the following:
· Double vision
· Slurred speech
· Drowsiness
· Diarrhea
Does Neurontin interact with other drugs?
If you are taking any of the medications listed below, it is imperative to discuss them with your doctor, since these may increase the risks of developing side effects from Neurontin:
· Aluminum Carbonate, Basic
· Aluminum Hydroxide
· Aluminum Phosphate
· Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate
· Dihydroxyaluminum Sodium Carbonate
· Ginkgo
· Magaldrate
· Magnesium Carbonate
· Magnesium Hydroxide
· Magnesium Oxide
· Magnesium Trisilicate
· Morphine
· Morphine Sulfate Liposome
It is also not recommended to take Neurontin with califediol or orlistat.
In some cases, it may be medically necessary to take one of these medications with Neurontin.
Your doctor may adjust your dose in order to minimize adverse effects.
If you have any of the following preexisting medical conditions, talk to your doctor before taking Neurontin.
· Depression or history of mood or mental changes
· Kidney disease (side effects may be increased because Neurontin will be removed from your body at a slower rate)
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Neurontin:
1. What is Neurontin good for?
Neurontin is a medication used to treat nerve pain caused by the herpes virus or shingles (herpes zoster).
The Horizant brand of Neurontin is also used to treat restless leg syndrome (RLS).
The Neurontin is used to treat seizures and children who are older than 3 years of age.
2. Is Neurontin considered a painkiller?
Neurontin is a prescription medication used primarily to treat seizures and neuropathic pain associated with herpes zoster, or shingles.
It is not necessarily a painkiller since it is also used to treat seizures, and it is also considered safe, as it has little to no potential for misuse.
3. What are the side effects of taking Neurontin?
There are many potential side effects of Neurontin. These include drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness or lack of coordination, loss of memory, difficulty speaking, viral infections, and tremors.
4. How does Neurontin make you feel?
Neurontin can induce feelings of relaxation, calmness, and euphoria.
Some users get high from snorting Neurontin and report that the effects feel similar to taking a stimulant.
5. Is Neurontin good for anxiety?
Although not the primary use, Neurontin is used off-label to treat anxiety.
Neurontin is primarily an antiseizure, or anticonvulsant, medication used to prevent seizures, and also treats post-herpetic neuralgia, which is the pain that follows an episode of shingles.
6. How long does it take for Neurontin to kick in?
Neurontin usually takes one to two weeks to kick in.
Your pain should start to improve one or two weeks after starting to take Neurontin, however it may take longer in some patients.
Some people may feel the benefits right away.
7. What drugs should not be taken with Neurontin?
Neurontin can interact with the following drugs: losartan, ethacrynic acid, caffeine, phenytoin, mefloquine, magnesium oxide, cimetidine, naproxen, sevelamer, and morphine.
Neurontin use is contraindicated, or highly advised against, in patients who have been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis or myoclonus.
8. Is Neurontin a muscle relaxer?
Neurontin is a muscle relaxant.
Baclofen, however, is a muscle relaxant used to treat spasms in the skeletal muscle, muscle clonus, or muscle rigidity.
It can also be used to treat pain caused by multiple sclerosis.
9. Can I take Tylenol with Neurontin?
It is considered safe to take Tylenol with Neurontin.
No interactions were found between Neurontin and Tylenol Extra Strength.
This does not mean that no interactions exist, thus you should always talk to your doctor before taking any other medications while taking Neurontin.
10. Is Neurontin good for back pain?
Researchers found that Neurontin is effective for pain due to a far lateral lumbar disk herniation.
11. Does Neurontin help you sleep?
Neurontin, although originally prescribed to treat epilepsy, has also been shown to increase slow-wave sleep in healthy volunteers or patients.
12. Can you drink alcohol with Neurontin?
It is strongly suggested not to drink alcohol while taking Neurontin.
The depressant effects of alcohol can be enhanced when taking Neurontin.
These include dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating.
13. Can I take Neurontin occasionally?
Neurontin may be taken up to 3 times daily, but the brand names Horizant and Gralise are taken once daily.
The maximum recommended dose is between 1800 and 3600 mg a day.
Neurontin can be taken with or without food, but should be taken with a full glass of water.
14. What are the long-term effects of taking Neurontin?
People that have a preexisting kidney disease may experience fatal toxicity when taking Neurontin.
Treatment with Neurontin may cause other long-term effects including muscle weakness, memory loss, and respiratory failure.
15. Is Neurontin good for arthritis?
The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases (NIAMS) show that Neurontin, which is an anticonvulsant medication, can also be used for the treatment of pain and the symptoms associated with neuralgia and arthritis.
16. What drug class is Neurontin?
Neurontin belongs to a class of drugs known as anticonvulsants, or anti-seizure drugs.
17. Does Neurontin fight inflammation?
A study indicates that Neurontin does not have an analgesic effect in normal skin, but may reduce mechanical (touch) sensitivity in acute inflammation following a thermal injury, or injury caused by excessive heat.
18. Does Neurontin make you hungry?
Weight gain is a common side effect of Neurontin because it can increase your appetite.
19. Can Neurontin cause shaking?
Shaking, or tremor, is one of the common side effects of Neurontin.
Some of the other common side effects include ataxia (lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements), drowsiness, dizziness, fever, sedation, and viral infection.
Others include blurred vision, diplopia (double vision), tremor, and swelling in the legs.
20. Is Neurontin the same as tramadol?
Neurontin and tramadol are used to treat different types of pain.
Neurontin is an antiseizure medication, or anticonvulsant, and is also used for nerve pain, or neuralgia.
Tramadol, however, is an opioid analgesic, or pain reliever and is used to manage moderate to severe pain.
21. Does Neurontin make you happy?
Neurontin can induce feelings of relaxation, calmness, and euphoria.
Some users get high from snorting Neurontin and report that the effects feel similar to taking a stimulant.
In this blog post, we discussed what Neurontin is used to treat, common side effects, and precautions to take before using this drug.
Want to learn more about Neurontin? Try these books!
Neurontin: 523 Questions to Ask that Matter to You
This book has extensive details to answer all your questions regarding Neurontin. If you are wondering about drug interactions, allergies, or how to take this medication you can find that information here.
This guide will help you formulate the right questions to ask your doctor and includes room for notes so you can jot down important information during your appointments.
In addition, if you are a healthcare provider and want to make sure you can answer every question your patient has, then this guide book is for you as well.
Neurontin.: Effective and long-lasting treatment of nonmalignant neuropathic pain, seizures, epilepsy and convulsion, etc.
This book by Hagreaves Layuf investigates Neurontin misuse, side effects, potential interactions with other drugs, and use contraindications.
Layuf details the reasons for Neurontin misuse and attributes many cases to the desire to get high, alleviating withdrawal symptoms from opioids, and potentiating the effects of methadone.
Neurontin interacts with morphine, losartan, ethacrynic acid, phenytoin, mefloquine, and magnesium oxide.
This book by James Lee Anderson provides information about Neurontin in paperback form.
It discusses what Neurontin is prescribed for, how it works, and how it should be taken.
References
Neurontin (Oral Route).Mayo Clinic. 2019.
Neurontin.Medline Plus. November 22nd, 2019.
Neurontin for Depression, Mania, and Anxiety.Psycom. November 25th, 2018.
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