What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-Kidney disease
-Lung or breathing disease
-Substance use disorder
-Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt by you or a family member
-An unusual or allergic reaction to gabapentin, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-Breast-feeding
What may interact with this medication?
-Alcohol
-Antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold
-Certain medications for anxiety or sleep
-Certain medications for depression like amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline
-Certain medications for seizures like phenobarbital, primidone
-Certain medications for stomach problems
-General anesthetics like halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
-Local anesthetics like lidocaine, pramoxine, tetracaine
-Medications that relax muscles for surgery
-Opioid medications for pain
-Phenothiazines like chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. You may want to keep a record at home of how you feel your condition is responding to treatment. You may want to share this information with your care team at each visit. You should contact your care team if your seizures get worse or if you have any new types of seizures. Do not stop taking this medication or any of your seizure medications unless instructed by your care team. Stopping your medication suddenly can increase your seizures or their severity.
This medication may cause serious skin reactions. They can happen weeks to months after starting the medication. Contact your care team right away if you notice fevers or flu-like symptoms with a rash. The rash may be red or purple and then turn into blisters or peeling of the skin. Or, you might notice a red rash with swelling of the face, lips or lymph nodes in your neck or under your arms.
Wear a medical identification bracelet or chain if you are taking this medication for seizures. Carry a card that lists all your medications.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy, and drinking plenty of water may help.
Watch for new or worsening thoughts of suicide or depression. This includes sudden changes in mood, behaviors, or thoughts. These changes can happen at any time but are more common in the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose. Call your care team right away if you experience these thoughts or worsening depression.
If you become pregnant while using this medication, you may enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry by calling 1-888-233-2334. This registry collects information about the safety of antiepileptic medication use during pregnancy.