What are common side effects of Neurontin? How can I manage side effects?
Answer From Jonathan Graff-Radford, M.D.
Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) is a medicine used to help manage certain epileptic seizures. It also is used to relieve pain for some conditions, such as shingles. Dizziness and drowsiness are common side effects of gabapentin. Some other possible side effects include weight gain and trouble with movement.
Some gabapentin side effects, such as feeling drowsy, are more likely to occur when you start taking the medicine. These side effects may go away as your body adjusts. Avoid driving, operating machinery or other activities that could be dangerous if you're dizzy, drowsy or not steady.
Side effects sometimes occur because of a combination of medicines you're taking. Gabapentin doesn't generally interact with other medicines. But antacids, such as Maalox, can affect the way your body absorbs gabapentin. To avoid this issue, be sure to take gabapentin and antacids at least two hours apart.
Stopping gabapentin suddenly may increase your risk of seizures. Talk with your health care team before you stop taking the medicine.
A concern about some anti-seizure medicines, including gabapentin, is that they might cause an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Some studies have found an increase in suicidal behaviors in people taking anti-seizure medicines. But the research is unclear about whether the medicine actually increases this risk. Be sure to talk to a health care provider or mental health provider right away if you're having suicidal thoughts.
And let your provider know if you have questions about gabapentin side effects or if your side effects aren't going away.
With
Jonathan Graff-Radford, M.D.
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Dec. 28, 2022
- Gabapentin. Epilepsy Foundation. https://www.epilepsy.com/tools-resources/seizure-medication-list/gabapentin. Accessed July 13, 2022.
- Neurontin (prescribing information). Pfizer; 2015. http://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=630. Accessed July 13, 2022.
- Mula M. Suicidality and antiepileptic drugs in people with epilepsy: An update. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 2022; doi:10.1080/14737175.2022.2064744.
- Hesdorffer DC, et al. Occurrence and recurrence of attempted suicide among people with epilepsy. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016; doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.2516.
- Mula M, et al. Antiepileptic drugs and suicidality: An expert consensus statement from the Task Force on Therapeutic Strategies of the ILAE Commission on Neuropsychobiology. Epilepsia. 2013; doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2012.03688.x.
- Graff-Radford J (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Dec. 2, 2022.
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FAQs
Take gabapentin with or after a meal or snack. It may also help if you do not eat rich or spicy food. Take small sips of water or other fluids to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.
What is the number one side effect of gabapentin? ›
Gabapentin may cause vision changes, clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, or trouble with thinking. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well.
Does anything counteract gabapentin? ›
Gabapentin can interact with some over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements, too. These include antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) as well as antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum. Your prescriber and pharmacist can help you check for gabapentin interactions.
How do I get the best out of gabapentin? ›
You can take gabapentin with or without food, but it's best to do the same each day. Try to space your doses evenly through the day. For example, you could take it first thing in the morning, early afternoon and at bedtime.
When do gabapentin side effects go away? ›
Some gabapentin side effects, such as feeling drowsy, are more likely to occur when you start taking the medicine. These side effects may go away as your body adjusts.
How do you tolerate gabapentin? ›
Currently, the only reliable advice on how to avoid gabapentin tolerance is to take it as infrequently as possible and at the lowest effective dose. If you are concerned that you are developing a tolerance to gabapentin, make an appointment with your prescriber to discuss your options.
What is the new warning on gabapentin? ›
Gabapentin and pregabalin are used to treat a variety of neurologic conditions including seizures, nerve pain, and restless legs syndrome. The new warning concerns the risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression with this class of drugs.
What are the toxic effects of gabapentin? ›
Common symptoms of gabapentin overdose are drowsiness, fast heartbeat, dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, and impaired coordination. In severe cases, lethargy, coma, and death may occur.
What are the horrors of gabapentin? ›
As an anticonvulsant medication, gabapentin is also prescribed for conditions like diabetic neuropathy, restless leg syndrome, and postherpetic neuralgia. However, side effects of gabapentin can be serious, leading to weight gain, dizziness, and even suicidal thoughts.
Does magnesium cancel out gabapentin? ›
Magnesium is a mineral that's important for your health. When a magnesium-containing medication or supplement is taken with gabapentin, it can lower gabapentin's effectiveness. It's recommended to take gabapentin at least 2 hours after taking magnesium.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that serious breathing difficulties may occur in patients using gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) or pregabalin (Lyrica, Lyrica CR) who have respiratory risk factors.
What foods should I avoid when taking gabapentin? ›
Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? You can eat and drink normally while taking gabapentin.
What is the biggest side effect of gabapentin? ›
It can also cause diarrhea. More serious (but rare) side effects include suicidal thoughts or behavior, and mood changes in children. Combining gabapentin with certain medications, like opioids or benzodiazepines, can also lead to difficulty breathing and overdose in rare cases.
What reduces the effects of gabapentin? ›
Some medicines may affect how gabapentin works or increase the chance of you having side effects. Antacids can reduce the amount of gabapentin that the body takes in so it does not work as well. To stop this happening, if you need to take an antacid, take it at least 2 hours before or after your dose of gabapentin.
Is 300mg of gabapentin a lot? ›
Adults— At first, 300 milligrams (mg) as a single dose in the evening. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 1800 mg per day. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
How long does it take your body to adjust to gabapentin? ›
After taking a dose, IR gabapentin starts to work in the body within two to three hours. 11 However, the full effects of gabapentin can take one to two weeks to become noticeable, and some people may need to wait longer to experience significant pain reduction.
Can you stop taking gabapentin without side effects? ›
Withdrawal symptoms can begin within 12 hours to 7 days after quitting the medication and last up to 10 days. Symptoms of gabapentin withdrawal may include nausea, dizziness, headaches, insomnia, and anxiety. The safest way to stop using gabapentin is to taper off the medication under the supervision of a doctor.
How can I make gabapentin wear off faster? ›
Finally, hydration could conceivably speed up the elimination of gabapentin from an individual's system since the drug is primarily metabolized in the kidneys and eliminated through the urine. More frequent urination could conceivably speed up the process of elimination of the drug.
