gabapentin
Sign in to saveGabapentin, sold under the brand name Neurontin among others, is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat neuropathic pain (postherpetic neuralgia) and partial seizures of epilepsy. Gabapentin is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and derivative of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA. It is used for the treatment of neuropathic pain caused by diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and central pain. It is moderately effective: about 30–40% of those given gabapentin for diabetic neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia have a meaningful benefit.
Key facts
- Drug.onset
- 2-3 hours
- Drug.image
- GabapentinStructure.svg
- Drug.image_class
- skin-invert-image
- Drug.tradename
- Neurontin, others
- Drug.MedlinePlus
- a694007
- Drug.DailyMedID
- Gabapentin
- Drug.pregnancy_AU
- B1
- Drug.dependency_liability
- Physical: HighPsychological: Moderate
- Drug.addiction_liability
- Low
- Drug.routes_of_administration
- By mouth
- Drug.ATC_prefix
- N02
- Drug.ATC_suffix
- BF01
- Drug.legal_AU
- S4
- Drug.legal_BR
- C1
- Drug.legal_CA
- Rx-only
- Drug.legal_UK
- Class C
- Drug.legal_US
- Schedule V controlled substance (Select States)
- Drug.bioavailability
- 27–60% (inversely proportional to dose; a high-fat meal also increases bioavailability)
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
35 sectionsContents
- Medical uses
- Seizures
- Neuropathic pain
- Anxiety
- Sleep
- Drug dependence
- Other
- Contraindications
- Side effects
- Suicide
- Respiratory depression
- Withdrawal and dependence
- Psychiatric and behavioral adverse effects
- Overdose
- Pharmacology
- Animal models
- Pharmacodynamics
- Pharmacokinetics
- Chemistry
- Synthesis
- History
- Society and culture
- Legal status
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Off-label promotion
- ''Franklin v. Parke-Davis'' case
- Gabasync
- Usage trends
- Brand names
- Related drugs
- Recreational use
- Veterinary use
- References
- External links
Gabapentin, sold under the brand name Neurontin among others, is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat neuropathic pain (postherpetic neuralgia) and partial seizures of epilepsy. Gabapentin is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and derivative of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA. It is used for the treatment of neuropathic pain caused by diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and central pain. It is moderately effective: about 30–40% of those given gabapentin for diabetic neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia have a meaningful benefit.
Gabapentin acts by decreasing activity of the α2δ-1 protein, coded by the CACNA2D1 gene, first known as an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. By binding to α2δ-1, gabapentin reduces the release of excitatory neurotransmitters (primarily glutamate) and as a result, reduces excess excitation of neuronal networks in the spinal cord and brain. Sleepiness and dizziness are the most common side effects. Serious side effects include respiratory depression and allergic reactions. On December 16, 2008, the FDA issued gabapentin a class warning for an increased risk of suicide. Approximately two years after this pronouncement, a pharmacoepidemiologic study was conducted that showed there was no outstanding difference in suicide attempt rates between pre- and post- gabapentin prescription groups.