Drug class
anti-epileptic drug
Definition
Gabapentin is an antiepileptic drug and is used in the clinical picture of epilepsy and neuropathic pain.
How does gabapentin work?
Unfortunately, the exact mechanism of action of gabapentin has not yet been clarified. It is believed to inhibit glutamate receptors (glutamate is an excitatory transmitter in the brain) and to block certain calcium channels. Structurally it is similar to the inhibitory transmitter GABA, but its “anti-epileptic” effect probably has nothing to do with GABA.
Fields of application
Gabapetine is used to treat epilepsies originating from a specific part of the brain. In technical jargon, such epilepsies are also called partial epilepsies. The drug is prescribed both as a single therapy and as a supplementary medication.
Adults and children over 12 years of age may take gabapentin. A second area of use for the drug is neuropathic pain (long-lasting pain caused by nerve damage). These occur, for example, after the healing of shingles, after herpes zoster or in diabetic polyneuropathy. In addition, the pain can be alleviated after surgery with gabapentin.
Dosage
Please follow the instructions of the treating physician. Each patient receives an individual dosage, which is started slowly and increased if necessary. In addition, gabapentin must not be discontinued just like that.
It must be taken out slowly. This means that the dose is reduced more and more as the body gets used to the lower level of effect and may only be completely omitted when the level is minimal. Gabapentin is available as a hard capsule and should be swallowed whole with a little water.
The initial dosage is about 300 – 900 mg per day. The total dose can be increased up to 3600 mg per day. Gabapentin is usually taken in the morning, at noon and in the evening. These figures refer to both epilepsy and neuropathic pain.
Contraindication
Gabapentin should not be taken if a hypersensitivity reaction occurred during previous use of the same medication.