Gabapentin is among the 10 most prescribed medications in the U.S. But there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of it. That’s because it’s typically used to treat some fairly specific conditions. Those include seizures in people who have epilepsy, nerve damage following shingles and restless legs syndrome.
Gabapentin (some brand names: Horizant®, Gralise®, Neurontin®) is an anticonvulsive medication. Doctors use it to relax muscles and hinder spasms. It has other benefits such as reducing pain.
Below, find out how it works in your body and what the possible side effects are.
And don’t forget to bring this free prescription discount card with you to the pharmacy. It could save you up to 80% on your gabapentin.
How does gabapentin work?
Gabapentin reduces the excitability of certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Those nerve cells play a role in seizures and the transmission of pain signals, says Po-Chang Hsu, MD. Dr. Hsu is a medical consultant in Boston.
By decreasing the activity of these nerve cells, gabapentin can weaken seizures or stop them altogether.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder. You feel an irresistible urge to move your legs in order to feel comfortable. Scientists aren’t exactly sure how gabapentin works to relieve RLS discomfort. But it’s thought to affect the nerve cells, like with seizures.
For nerve pain, gabapentin works a bit differently. There are neurons in the brain known as GABAergic neurons, which produce gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). They act as a barrier to pain impulses. “When GABA neurons die or don’t work, the whole pain system in the body can get out of control,” says Dr. Hsu.
Gabapentin increases GABA concentration in the brain. And it mimics the action of GABA. So more GABA neurons means a stronger barrier to pain, Dr. Hsu adds.
Who shouldn’t take gabapentin?
Gabapentin isn’t for everybody. Some individuals should either not take it or be careful about using it, Dr. Hsu says. They include:
- Pregnant women or those who are trying to get pregnant
- People who have chronic kidney disease
- People dealing with depression or experiencing suicidal thoughts
- Those who have a history of medicine abuse or addiction
- Patients who have impaired lung function
- People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Before you start taking gabapentin, make sure you let your doctor know what medications you’re on. There are a number of medicines that negatively interact with gabapentin.
