What Condition Does Gabapentin Treat and Its Price?
Gabapentin is an FDA-approved prescription for use in people with seizures. This is an anticonvulsant drug that affects chemicals and nerves in the body that are involved in the cause of seizures.
What condition does Gabapentin treat?
Gabapentin is a prescription drug used to treat seizures. This medicine is also used for nerve pain that can be caused by different illnesses such as shingles or diabetes. Gabapentin affects certain nerves in the body that causes some types of pain.
How does Gabapentin work?
Gabapentin works in the nervous system and brain. It appears to affect the build-up of electrical signals in the nerve cells and also affects the activity of neurotransmitters in the nervous system and brain. Particularly is glutamate and GABA. GABA helps to keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance and is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural nerve-calming agent.
This medicine is released when electrical signals build up in nerve cells. Wherein, it excites more nerve cells. This is thought to play a key role in causing seizures and transmitting pain signals to the brain. Neurontin appears to increase GABA and reduce glutamate levels, which helps keep the nerve activity in the brain more balanced.
What is the dosage of Gabapentin?
The right dose of Gabapentin depends on several factors such as:
- The condition
- The strength of the drug
- Their age, weight, and overall health
This medication is to be taken by mouth. Each dose can be taken either with or without food or as directed by your doctor. It is very important to follow your doctor’s dosing instructions carefully. During the first treatment, your doctor may slowly increase your dose so your body can adjust to the medicine.
Take Gabapentin regularly for the best effect. The drug works best when the amount of medicine is kept at a constant level. Take Gabapentin at the same time and in the same way each day. Do not increase the dose or take this drug more often without consulting your doctor. Your condition will not improve any faster and the risk of serious side effects may occur. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased. Let your doctor know if your condition gets worse while having this prescription.
What are the precautions in using Gabapentin?
Before taking Gabapentin, tell your doctor:
- If you are allergic to any other medications, this drug, or any of the inactive ingredients in the type of Gabapentin you plan to take. You can ask your pharmacist for a list of the inactive ingredients.
- If you have or have ever had kidney or lung disease. If you will be taking the extended-release tablets, also tell your doctor if you need to sleep during the day and stay awake at night.
- If you are having surgery, tell the doctor that you are taking this drug.
- If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Gabapentin, call your doctor.
- If you are giving this medicine to your child, you must know that your child’s behavior and mental capacities may change while taking this medication. Your child may have sudden mood changes, become hyperactive or hostile, be drowsy or clumsy, and have difficulty concentrating or paying attention. Have your child avoid activities that could be dangerous until you know how Gabapentin affects them.
- What prescription and non-prescription medications, nutritional supplements, herbal products, and vitamins, you are taking or plan to take.
Other precautions:
- You must know that this medication may make you dizzy or drowsy, may cause loss of coordination, and may slow your thinking. Do not operate machinery or drive a car until you know how this medication affects you, and your doctor agrees that it is safe for you to begin these activities.
- You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways and you may become suicidal while you are taking Gabapentin for the treatment of seizure. You and your doctor will decide whether the risks of taking an anticonvulsant medication are greater than the risks of not taking the medication.
Price of Gabapentin vs. Neurontin
The generic Gabapentin is an inexpensive medication for seizures that only costs $0.3 per unit of 100 mg on Rx2go. The brand name Neurontin costs $7.10 per unit of 100 mg. Therefore, the generic Gabapentin is much cheaper than the branded one.