What is gabapentin?
What is this drug used for?
How much gabapentin is safe for you?
What are the side effects of taking gabapentin?
Gabapentin is a medicine that interacts with GABA neurotransmitters in the brain responsible for balancing neural activity.
This article will help you understand and learn everything you need to know about this popular pain-relief medicine.
What is gabapentin used for?
Gabapentin is among the most popular anti-epileptic drugs prescribed for seizures and nerve pain relief. It belongs to a class of medicines called anticonvulsants, which help reduce convulsions.
They are taken orally in the form of tablets or capsules. It’s an excellent pain relief medication for herpes, pain in the vulva (vulvodynia), sore throat, and backaches.
It’s also prescribed for reducing stabbing aches after spinal injuries. Gabapentin is also useful in minimizing symptoms of RLS or Restless Leg Syndrome, a condition that increases the painful urge to move legs constantly while sitting or sleeping.
This medication is ideal for epileptic kids under 3 years who suffer from serious seizures.
What are the most common side effects of gabapentin?
Taking gabapentin can also pose some side effects on your health including;
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Sleepiness
- Fatigue
- Tremors
- Body aches
- Memory loss
- Negative or suicidal thoughts
- Restlessness
- Renal issues
- Rapid eye movements
- Irritation and anger
- Panic attacks
- Swelling in limbs
- Breathing problems
- Increased anxiety
- Communication issues
- Fever
- Delusions
- Mania
- Nausea
- Eyesight problems
To minimize the risk of negative impacts, it’s necessary to take gabapentin per your doctor’s advice.
Never stop taking this drug or change the dosage without consulting your doctor first.
Otherwise, it can not only worsen your epileptic or pain symptoms but also lead to severe side effects.
Is gabapentin like Xanax?
Gabapentin does act like Xanax. Both medicines are great for anxiety relief and to calm yourself down. They induce sleepiness and help you relax if they are taken responsibly at the right time in the correct doses.
The only difference is that while Xanax is primarily an anxiety medicine, gabapentin is more of an epileptic drug used for treating convulsions or seizures.
However, it can also be used for anxiety symptoms.
Does gabapentin help with anxiety?
If you have social phobia or struggle with social anxiety, gabapentin can help manage the signs of this mental disorder.
Gabapentin is also good medicine for balancing moods in people with bipolar disorder. It is more effective for mild anxiety symptoms than severe ones such as panic attacks.
Additionally, gabapentin may not act well enough for treating agoraphobia. Exactly how long it will take for the drug to help you with anxiety is completely subjective.
For some, it takes a few weeks but normally, you may need at least 3 weeks for experiencing the full impact of the med.
Does gabapentin cause hair loss?
Some research shows that gabapentin can also cause hair loss as a side effect for many. In such cases, you are always recommended to visit your doctor and listen to their advice on whether to stop using the medication or not.
Your doctor, if they don’t advise you to stop, will prescribe minoxidil or other hair growth options to relieve the hair loss.
Is gabapentin good for sciatica?
Sciatica is an unbearable spinal pain that begins in the sciatic nerve running in the hips and the lower back region. Gabapentin is perfect for this kind of chronic pain relief.
Most people notice a significant reduction in sciatica pain after just 2 weeks while for others it may take a bit longer. Gabapentin drug can also reduce aches in the arms or legs.
Is gabapentin an anti-seizure medication?
By reducing the neural excitement in the brain, gabapentin works as a perfect anti-seizure medication. It is more commonly prescribed to children for treating epilepsy episodes.
It is important first to have a proper diagnosis before prescribing the drug for epilepsy because it can also have dire consequences on health.
Additionally, appropriate gabapentin dosage is equally crucial.
Can gabapentin stop hiccups?
Research shows that some patients with constant hiccups experienced immediate relief by using oral gabapentin tablets.
Doctors recommend taking small doses of gabapentin at least 3 to 4 times a day to cure hiccups associated with advanced diseases.
Does gabapentin make neuropathy go away?
If your nerves or nervous system is causing you chronic pain to the point where you’re unable to function properly and carry out daily tasks without hindrance, gabapentin could be a viable solution for your problems.
This medicine is a remarkable choice for getting relief from neuropathic pain in the feet, arms, spine, head, or even vulva.
Diabetic neuropathy, a condition causing swollen painful feet, can also be treated with gabapentin doses. You will notice relief after about two weeks of starting the drug.
How much gabapentin should I take for pain?
The amount of gabapentin should always be determined by a professional. Taking too much or too little of this medicine can be harmful to your health, lead to side effects, or aggravate the symptoms.
Depending on the disease and your body’s willpower, the doctor will adjust the doses to promote better outcomes.
Hope you found this in-depth review of gabapentin useful. While its effectiveness varies from person to person, this drug is still ideal for epileptic children as well as adults with chronic pain.
About The Author:
Kinh Luat Duong is the founder of MyHealthGuide.org – a free health, and beauty website dedicated to providing free, accurate, and medically-reviewed health information to the public.
