How much neurontin can you take in a day

If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:. If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you remember just a few hours before the time for your next dose, then only take one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two capsules at once. This could result in dangerous side effects.

How to tell if the drug is working: You should have fewer seizures. Or you should have less nerve pain. Gabapentin oral capsules can be taken with or without food. Taking them with food can help to reduce upset stomach.

A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription.

Kidney function. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function during your treatment with this drug. Mental health and behavioral problems. You and your doctor should watch for any changes in your behavior and mood. This drug can cause new mental health and behavior problems. It may also worsen problems you already have. Many insurance companies require a prior authorization for gabapentin. This means your doctor will need to get approval from your insurance company before your insurance company will pay for the prescription.

There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

Postherpetic neuralgia results from nerves that are damaged during a shingles outbreak. Read more on how to treat it. Gabapentin can help control seizures as well as nerve pain from shingles. It may sometimes cause side effects, especially if you misuse it. Restless legs syndrome RLS can lead to poor quality of life.

Learn about treatments such as supplements, medication, foot wraps, and vibrating pads…. Drug allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe. Learn these symptoms and how to react to each type. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant used off-label to help prevent migraine attacks.

The human brain works by sending electrical signals through neurons, which are nerve cells. A seizure occurs when there's a surge in this electrical…. Natural treatments for epilepsy, such as herbs, biofeedback, and acupuncture, may complement traditional treatment options.

Learn more. Measure the oral liquid using a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. If you take an antacid that contains aluminum or magnesium, wait at least 2 hours before taking gabapentin.

Only use the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Different brands may not work the same way. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible.

Neuropathic pain is a chronic debilitating pain syndrome that is complex to treat. Current medication management for neuropathic pain includes select neuromodulating agents such as anticonvulsants, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and certain opioids.

For patients on dialysis, gabapentin can often be 3 times weekly following dialysis. Several cross-sectional studies have reported gabapentin being used in subtherapeutic doses among most patients. The cornerstones of effective pharmacotherapy are the right patient, the right drug, and the right dose. If an analgesic medication is being used at a suboptimal dose, oftentimes a knee-jerk reaction is to add another analgesic for synergy.

While this may well be indicated under appropriate circumstances, it is inappropriate without maximizing the dose of each single agent with careful attention to dose titration in order to minimize toxicity of each add-on.

This adds to polypharmacy, increased costs, and the pain remains inadequately treated. Pharmacists as medication experts can collaborate with prescribers to optimize the rational use of gabapentin in neuropathic pain.

Receptor binding causes presynaptic inhibition of excitatory neurotransmitter release i. Gabapentin has saturable, non-linear absorption kinetics, where bioavailability decreases as the dose increases. Pregabalin boasts a binding affinity for the alphadelta receptor that is six times greater than that of gabapentin. Patients should be aware of the therapeutic dosing for neuropathic pain to establish realistic expectations and improve compliance and likelihood of remaining on therapy.

However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted effects eg, problems with balance or walking, swelling in the feet or legs and age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving gabapentin.

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.

When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:. Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

To do so may increase the chance of side effects. This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. For patients with epilepsy who take gabapentin three times per day, do not allow more than 12 hours to pass between any 2 doses.

The medicine works best if a constant amount is in the blood. Do not use the half-tablet if the whole tablet has been cut or broken after 28 days.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Measure the oral liquid using a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup.