Neurontin (Gabapentin) - Summary

NEURONTIN SUMMARY

Neurontin^® (gabapentin) Capsules
Neurontin^® (gabapentin) Tablets
Neurontin^®(gabapentin) Oral Solution

Neurontin^® (gabapentin) has anticonvulsant and analgesic action. Neurontin^® (gabapentin) Capsules, Neurontin^® (gabapentin) Tablets, and Neurontin^® (gabapentin) Oral Solution are supplied as imprinted hard shell capsules containing 100 mg, 300 mg, and 400 mg of gabapentin, elliptical film-coated tablets containing 600 mg and 800 mg of gabapentin or an oral solution containing 250 mg/5 mL of gabapentin.

Neurontin^® (gabapentin) is indicated for the management of postherpetic neuralgia in adults.

Neurontin^® (gabapentin) is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures with and without secondary generalization in patients over 12 years of age with epilepsy. Neurontin is also indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in pediatric patients age 3 - 12 years.

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Neurontin (Gabapentin)

Promising Results In Reducing Neuropathic Pain With Combined Drug Treatment, Than With Either Drug Alone
Source: Body Aches News From Medical News Today [2009.09.30]
An article published Online First and in a future edition of The Lancet reports that combination treatment using gabapentin and nortriptyline reduces neuropathic pain more than either drug alone. This treatment could be used in patients that only partly respond to one drug or the other. The article is the work of Professor Ian Gilron, Director of Clinical Pain Research, Queen's University, and Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues.

Alzheimer's Society Comment On The Use Of Epilepsy Drugs To Treat Alzheimer's
Source: Epilepsy News From Medical News Today [2009.10.29]
Epilepsy drugs could be developed as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases according to research published in the journal Molecular Neurodegeneration. The study found that nerve cells lived longer when treated with T-type calcium-channel blockers, which are commonly used to treat epilepsy. 'This study is interesting since other research has shown that anti-convulsant drugs reduce the tangles of proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's And Parkinson's Could Be Treated By Epilepsy Drugs
Source: Epilepsy News From Medical News Today [2009.10.29]
Researchers in the USA have discovered a potential new function for anti-epileptic drugs in treating neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The study, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Molecular Neurodegeneration, found that neurons in the brain were protected after treatment with T-type calcium-channel blockers, which are commonly used to treat epilepsy.

Epilepsy Treatment Is A Possible Culprit For Development Of Schizophrenia
Source: Epilepsy News From Medical News Today [2009.10.21]
Researchers say antiepilectic drug treatments administered when the brain is developing appear to trigger schizophrenia-like behavior in animal models. In humans, having a history of seizures in infancy is a significant risk factor for development of schizophrenia later in life, but it is not known whether the elevated risk is due to seizures themselves, or from side effects antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment.

'Molecular Trigger' For Sudden Death In Epilepsy Revealed By BCM Scientists
Source: Epilepsy News From Medical News Today [2009.10.15]
The most common gene for a syndrome associated with abnormal heart rhythms and sudden death triggers epileptic seizures and could explain sudden unexplained death in epilepsy, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears today in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

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Published Studies Related to Neurontin (Gabapentin)

Effects of gabapentin on sleep in menopausal women with hot flashes as measured by a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index factor scoring model. [2009.09]
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to analyze gabapentin's effect on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores in menopausal women... CONCLUSIONS: Gabapentin may improve sleep quality in menopausal women with hot flashes. These results warrant further prospective investigation, with an emphasis on measuring subjective sleep quality and maintenance.

Newer antidepressants and gabapentin for hot flashes: a discussion of trial duration. [2009.09]
OBJECTIVE: Information regarding the ideal length of hot flash trials is scarce. In the literature, hot flash trial durations have commonly varied from 4 to 12 weeks. This article is devoted to providing scientific data to better ascertain how long it is necessary to conduct hot flash trials with newer centrally acting agents... CONCLUSIONS: Changes in hot flash scores from newer antidepressants and gabapentin are apparent within 4 weeks of therapy. Available data indicate that hot flash treatment efficacy, compared with that of placebo, remains stable for up to 12 weeks of follow-up.

Gabapentin Enacarbil in Restless Legs Syndrome: A Phase 2b, 2-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. [2009.08.03]
OBJECTIVES:: Assess the efficacy and tolerability of gabapentin enacarbil (GEn), a transported prodrug of gabapentin with improved gabapentin exposure, in adults with moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome... CONCLUSIONS:: Gabapentin enacarbil at 1200 mg significantly improved restless legs syndrome symptoms compared with placebo. Efficacy outcomes for GEn at 600 mg were similar to placebo. Both GEn doses were generally well tolerated.

Efficacy of a combination of flumazenil and gabapentin in the treatment of alcohol dependence: relationship to alcohol withdrawal symptoms. [2009.08]
Improved treatment of alcohol dependence is a high priority, including defining subtypes that might respond differently. We evaluated a medication combination of intravenous flumazenil (FMZ) and oral gabapentin (GBP) in alcoholics who did and did not exhibit pretreatment alcohol withdrawal (AW) symptoms...

Attenuation of hemodynamic responses following laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation -- comparative assessment of clonidine and gabapentin premedication. [2009.06]
CONCLUSION: The data propose that both clonidine and gabapentin have effective role in blunting hyperdynamic responses after laryngoscopy, more so with gabapentin.

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Clinical Trials Related to Neurontin (Gabapentin)

New Drugs in the Treatment of Mood Disorders [Completed]
This clinical study compares the effectiveness of two anticonvulsants Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Monotherapy and Gabapentin (Neurontin) in patients with treatment resistant affective disorders. We initially have found that the response rate to lamotrigine (51%) exceeded that of gabapentin (28%) or placebo (21%). In this study the placebo phase has been dropped so that we examine possible clinical and biological factors predictors of response. The drugs will be given in a randomized order for six weeks each and you will not know when you are on a given one. There will be a 2-4 week "washout" period between treatments. If you respond well to one of these treatments, a longer open continuation period will be offered at the end of this study. This would involve one or both drugs in combination. A variety of rating scales and brain imaging procedures will also be offered before and during each drug evaluation. Both lamotrigine and gabapentin are generally well tolerated. A serious potentially life threatening rash occurs in about 1/500 patients treated with lamotrigine, however. Common side effects are rash, dizziness, unsteadiness, double vision, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, sedation, and headache. These side effects are usually mild, and resolve with continued time on the drug or a decrease in dosage.

Effect of Gabapentin on Idiopathic Subjective Tinnitus [Active, not recruiting]
The purpose of this study is to determine wether Gabapentin which is useful for treating neuropathic pains, is effective on idiopathic subjective tinnitus.

An Open Label Pharmacokinetic Study Of Gabapentin In Japanese Subjects With Renal Impairment Including Hemodialysis [Active, not recruiting]
To confirm the pharmacokinetics following administration of gabapentin to Japanese subjects with renal impairment, compare the results to Western study results and confirm the adaptive possibility of dose adjustment in US package insert to Japanese.

Gabapentin for the Treatment of Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women [Active, not recruiting]
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of gabapentin compared to placebo in the treatment of hot flashes in postmenopausal women using a phase III randomized controlled trial.

A Study Of The Efficacy Of Gabapentin In Neuropathic Pain Patients As Measured By Quantitative Sensory Testing [Completed]

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PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Neurontin review by 45 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		No Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		difficulty sleeping because of nervous system prob
Dosage & duration:		500 mg at bedtime taken daily for the period of 6 years
Other conditions:		thyroid disease, allergies
Other drugs taken:		thyroid medication
		Reported Results
Benefits:		Helped to promote sleep without side effects, hangover or any of the other problems associated with other sleep medications. The sleep difficulty was caused by a horrible reaction to another medication called Celexa, which appeared to sensitize my nervous system even after the Celexa was stopped. Ever since taking the Celexa my nervous system has been exquisitely sensitive, with symptoms such as pain, heart palpitations, restless legs, and other such things that totally interrupted my ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Side effects:		None
Comments:		Used 400-500 mg at bedtime.

Neurontin review by 38 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Moderately Effective
Side effects:		No Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		Nerve disorder
Dosage & duration:		600mg taken 3 x day for the period of still taking it 1+ year
Other conditions:		Migraines
Other drugs taken:		Maxalt, 800 mg of Ibprofen as needed
		Reported Results
Benefits:		I'm taking Gabapentin to treat nerve disorder. My nerves are inflamed and causes to experience pelvic pain and other pelvic disorders. The Gabapentin sometimes works but I do experience relapse. For the migraines I find that the 800mg of Ibprofen works better with no side effect for my migraines, but the maxalt has a better track record.
Side effects:		I have no side effect while taking Gabapentin but if I miss a couple of dosages or run out and wait for my next refill, I have moderate withdrawal syptoms. These syptoms include itchness, irrability, moodness, axiousness, and headaches. Maxalt side effect for me is throat feels contristricted shortly after taking medicine.
Comments:		I take 600mg of Gabapentin three times day. It seems to be effective but I feel I need a hire dosage as the longer I take it the more I experience relapses.I first started out with 300mg three times a day but it was ineffective.

Neurontin review by 52 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Ineffective
Side effects:		Extremely Severe Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		chronic pain, fibromyalgia
Dosage & duration:		started at 100 mg, then to 300 mg daily taken daily for the period of 4 wks
Other conditions:		spinal injury
Other drugs taken:		NSAIDS
		Reported Results
Benefits:		Non that were apparent.
Side effects:		I had a bipolar event. Mood improvement to hypomania to mania over a period of 2 weeks. Then a crash to sobbing and suicidal ideation 3 days later. This happened when I started on 300 mg/day after 2 weeks. No prior history of bipolar illness.
Comments:		Started at 100 mg/day, upward to 300 mg as tolerated.