Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGabapentin and How It WorksHow Long Does Gabapentin Take to Work?Long-Term Use of GabapentinHow Much Gabapentin Do I Take for Nerve Pain?Side Effects of Gabapentin
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Gabapentin and How It Works
How Long Does Gabapentin Take to Work?
Long-Term Use of Gabapentin
How Much Gabapentin Do I Take for Nerve Pain?
Side Effects of Gabapentin
Neurontin (gabapentin) is a prescription antiepileptic medication commonly used forneuropathic pain (pain due to nerve damage), along with other health conditions.
If you’ve been prescribed gabapentin for nerve pain, you may begin to feel pain relief within one to two weeks of starting it, depending on your dosage. However, for some people, it can take longer to see benefits.
This article discusses gabapentin and its uses, how long it takes to treat nerve pain, dosage recommendations, side effects, and more.
Safety WarningTaking antiepileptic drugs like gabapentin can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice emerging or worsening depression or unusual changes in mood or behavior after starting treatment.If you have suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911
Safety Warning
Taking antiepileptic drugs like gabapentin can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice emerging or worsening depression or unusual changes in mood or behavior after starting treatment.If you have suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911
Taking antiepileptic drugs like gabapentin can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice emerging or worsening depression or unusual changes in mood or behavior after starting treatment.
If you have suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911
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What Is Gabapentin and How Does It Work?
The United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved gabapentin in 1993 initially as a new antiepileptic to treat seizures. Today, it is also used as a first-line treatment for postherpetic neuralgia.
It’s also used off-label for conditions it is not FDA-approved for, such as fibromyalgia,alcohol use disorders,and neuropathic pain disorders, such asnerve pain associated with diabetesor spinal cord injury.
It is available only as a prescription. Dosage forms of gabapentin include capsules, tablets, and a solution.
Neurontin is the immediate-release (IR) formulation of gabapentin that is indicated to treat seizures and postherpetic neuralgia. Gabapentin is also marketed under extended-release (ER) forms:
These formulations are not interchangeable. Always use only the brand your healthcare provider has prescribed, and double-check all refills to ensure you receive the correct one.
How It Works for Nerve Pain
Nerve pain results from damage or illnesses that impact the somatosensory system. Gabapentin is structurally similar to the inhibitory neurotransmittergamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical in the brain.
How Long Does Gabapentin Take to Work for Nerve Pain?
After taking a dose, IR gabapentin starts to work in the body within two to three hours.However, the full effects of gabapentin can take one to two weeks to become noticeable, and some people may need to wait longer to experience significant pain reduction. It may depend on your dose and individual response to the medication.
It is important to be patient and continue taking it as prescribed. To see if gabapentin works for you, your healthcare provider may prescribe it for four to six weeks or have you take the maximum tolerated dose for at least two weeks.
Nerve pain can be recurring and persistent, sometimes lasting three months or longer.Many people stay on gabapentin for long-term management of their nerve pain and take it daily. Talk to your healthcare provider if you don’t have pain relief within a couple of weeks after starting treatment.
Neuropathic pain is challenging to treat effectively. Many people will not benefit from just one intervention alone, so a combination of strategies is often recommended.
Since nerve pain can be long-lasting and recurring, extended treatment may be required in some cases.
Although gabapentin has not been studied for periods longer than six months,healthcare providers may prescribe it for extended durations as long as the medication continues to be effective and no serious side effects occur.
Generally, the recommended dosage of IR gabapentin is:
If needed, your healthcare provider may increase your dose to a maximum of 1800 milligrams per day.In clinical trials, doses up to 3600 milligrams per day have also been used.
Do not change your dosage without talking to your healthcare provider. Taking too much gabapentin can be dangerous or cause serious side effects.
To stay safe while taking gabapentin, remember the following:
If you forget to take a dose of gabapentin, do not panic. Take it on the same day unless it is too close to the time of your next dose. If it is too close to the next dose, skip the missed dose. Resume the regular dosing schedule the following day. Do not take extra to make up for the missed dose. Call your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
What Happens If I Take Too Much Gabapentin?Signs of an overdose of gabapentin may include:Double visionTremorsSlurred speechDrowsinessAltered mental stateDiarrheaIf you accidentally take too much, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222).If someone collapses or isn’t breathing after taking gabapentin, call 911 immediately.
What Happens If I Take Too Much Gabapentin?
Signs of an overdose of gabapentin may include:Double visionTremorsSlurred speechDrowsinessAltered mental stateDiarrheaIf you accidentally take too much, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222).If someone collapses or isn’t breathing after taking gabapentin, call 911 immediately.
Signs of an overdose of gabapentin may include:
If you accidentally take too much, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222).
If someone collapses or isn’t breathing after taking gabapentin, call 911 immediately.
The most common side effects of gabapentin include:
It is recommended to avoid any activities that require alertness, such as driving or operating heavy machinery while experiencing side effects like dizziness or drowsiness.
Other side effects may include:
Call a healthcare provider immediately if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new or worsening:
These are not all the possible side effects of gabapentin. Contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.
Summary
If you are experiencing nerve pain, gabapentin may be a suitable medication. However, it may take some time to determine if it is effective for you. The medication can take a few weeks to reach its full potential. For some people, it may take even longer.
Generally, it is recommended to take gabapentin for at least four to six weeks or at the highest tolerated dose for at least two weeks.However, nerve pain can be a long-term issue, lasting for three or more months.If gabapentin provides relief, your healthcare provider may have you continue taking it daily.
Frequently Asked QuestionsDo not stop taking gabapentin without consulting with your healthcare provider. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, nausea, pain, sweating, and sometimes agitation, disorientation, and confusion.Contact your healthcare provider, who can supervise a gradual reduction.Common conditions, such as post-herpetic neuralgia and painful diabetic neuropathy, are classified as chronic neuropathic pain and are associated with pain lasting longer than three months.Pharmaceutical therapies used to treat neuropathic paininclude gabapentin, among others. Many people stay on gabapentin long-term and take it every day.Your healthcare provider may suggest starting gabapentin once a day, depending on what you’re using it for. However, it’s best to take it at night, as one of the most frequent side effects of gabapentin is drowsiness.Most people will end up taking gabapentin three times daily. However, to ensure a consistent level of gabapentin throughout the day, it’s recommended to take the medication at even intervals, approximately every eight hours. This will help optimize its effectiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do not stop taking gabapentin without consulting with your healthcare provider. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, nausea, pain, sweating, and sometimes agitation, disorientation, and confusion.Contact your healthcare provider, who can supervise a gradual reduction.
Common conditions, such as post-herpetic neuralgia and painful diabetic neuropathy, are classified as chronic neuropathic pain and are associated with pain lasting longer than three months.Pharmaceutical therapies used to treat neuropathic paininclude gabapentin, among others. Many people stay on gabapentin long-term and take it every day.
Your healthcare provider may suggest starting gabapentin once a day, depending on what you’re using it for. However, it’s best to take it at night, as one of the most frequent side effects of gabapentin is drowsiness.Most people will end up taking gabapentin three times daily. However, to ensure a consistent level of gabapentin throughout the day, it’s recommended to take the medication at even intervals, approximately every eight hours. This will help optimize its effectiveness.
Your healthcare provider may suggest starting gabapentin once a day, depending on what you’re using it for. However, it’s best to take it at night, as one of the most frequent side effects of gabapentin is drowsiness.
Most people will end up taking gabapentin three times daily. However, to ensure a consistent level of gabapentin throughout the day, it’s recommended to take the medication at even intervals, approximately every eight hours. This will help optimize its effectiveness.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Markley HG, Dunteman ED, Kareht S, Sweeney M.Real-world experience with once-daily gabapentin for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).Clin J Pain. 2015;31(1):58-65. doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000082Bockbrader HN, Wesche D, Miller R, Chapel S, Janiczek N, Burger P.A comparison of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pregabalin and gabapentin.Clin Pharmacokinet.2010;49(10):661-669. doi:10.2165/11536200-000000000-00000Moore J, Gaines C.Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.Br J Community Nurs.2019;24(12):608-609. doi:10.12968/bjcn.2019.24.12.608DailyMed.Label: Neurontin- gabapentin capsule, Neurontin- gabapentin tablet, film coated, Neurontin- gabapentin solution.Cooper TE, Derry S, Wiffen PJ, Moore RA.Gabapentin for fibromyalgia pain in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;1(1):CD012188. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012188.pub2Weresch J, Kirkwood J, Korownyk CS.Gabapentin for alcohol use disorder.Can Fam Physician. 2021;67(4):269. doi:10.46747/cfp.6704269DailyMed.Label: Horizant- gabapentin enacarbil tablet, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Gralise- gabapentin tablet, film coated, Gralise Starter Pack- gabapentin kit.Xu L, Zhang Y, Huang Y.Advances in the treatment of neuropathic pain.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2016;904:117-129. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-7537-3_9Wiffen PJ, Derry S, Bell RF, et al.Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;6(6):CD007938. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007938.pub4Beal B, Moeller-Bertram T, Schilling JM, Wallace MS.Gabapentin for once-daily treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia: a review.Clin Interv Aging. 2012;7:249-255. doi:10.2147/CIA.S23783Bates D, Schultheis BC, Hanes MC, et al.A comprehensive algorithm for management of neuropathic pain.Pain Med. 2019;20(Suppl 1):S2-S12. doi:10.1093/pm/pnz075Food and Drug Administration. Neurontin label.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Markley HG, Dunteman ED, Kareht S, Sweeney M.Real-world experience with once-daily gabapentin for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).Clin J Pain. 2015;31(1):58-65. doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000082Bockbrader HN, Wesche D, Miller R, Chapel S, Janiczek N, Burger P.A comparison of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pregabalin and gabapentin.Clin Pharmacokinet.2010;49(10):661-669. doi:10.2165/11536200-000000000-00000Moore J, Gaines C.Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.Br J Community Nurs.2019;24(12):608-609. doi:10.12968/bjcn.2019.24.12.608DailyMed.Label: Neurontin- gabapentin capsule, Neurontin- gabapentin tablet, film coated, Neurontin- gabapentin solution.Cooper TE, Derry S, Wiffen PJ, Moore RA.Gabapentin for fibromyalgia pain in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;1(1):CD012188. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012188.pub2Weresch J, Kirkwood J, Korownyk CS.Gabapentin for alcohol use disorder.Can Fam Physician. 2021;67(4):269. doi:10.46747/cfp.6704269DailyMed.Label: Horizant- gabapentin enacarbil tablet, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Gralise- gabapentin tablet, film coated, Gralise Starter Pack- gabapentin kit.Xu L, Zhang Y, Huang Y.Advances in the treatment of neuropathic pain.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2016;904:117-129. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-7537-3_9Wiffen PJ, Derry S, Bell RF, et al.Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;6(6):CD007938. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007938.pub4Beal B, Moeller-Bertram T, Schilling JM, Wallace MS.Gabapentin for once-daily treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia: a review.Clin Interv Aging. 2012;7:249-255. doi:10.2147/CIA.S23783Bates D, Schultheis BC, Hanes MC, et al.A comprehensive algorithm for management of neuropathic pain.Pain Med. 2019;20(Suppl 1):S2-S12. doi:10.1093/pm/pnz075Food and Drug Administration. Neurontin label.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Markley HG, Dunteman ED, Kareht S, Sweeney M.Real-world experience with once-daily gabapentin for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).Clin J Pain. 2015;31(1):58-65. doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000082Bockbrader HN, Wesche D, Miller R, Chapel S, Janiczek N, Burger P.A comparison of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pregabalin and gabapentin.Clin Pharmacokinet.2010;49(10):661-669. doi:10.2165/11536200-000000000-00000Moore J, Gaines C.Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.Br J Community Nurs.2019;24(12):608-609. doi:10.12968/bjcn.2019.24.12.608DailyMed.Label: Neurontin- gabapentin capsule, Neurontin- gabapentin tablet, film coated, Neurontin- gabapentin solution.Cooper TE, Derry S, Wiffen PJ, Moore RA.Gabapentin for fibromyalgia pain in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;1(1):CD012188. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012188.pub2Weresch J, Kirkwood J, Korownyk CS.Gabapentin for alcohol use disorder.Can Fam Physician. 2021;67(4):269. doi:10.46747/cfp.6704269DailyMed.Label: Horizant- gabapentin enacarbil tablet, extended release.DailyMed.Label: Gralise- gabapentin tablet, film coated, Gralise Starter Pack- gabapentin kit.Xu L, Zhang Y, Huang Y.Advances in the treatment of neuropathic pain.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2016;904:117-129. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-7537-3_9Wiffen PJ, Derry S, Bell RF, et al.Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;6(6):CD007938. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007938.pub4Beal B, Moeller-Bertram T, Schilling JM, Wallace MS.Gabapentin for once-daily treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia: a review.Clin Interv Aging. 2012;7:249-255. doi:10.2147/CIA.S23783Bates D, Schultheis BC, Hanes MC, et al.A comprehensive algorithm for management of neuropathic pain.Pain Med. 2019;20(Suppl 1):S2-S12. doi:10.1093/pm/pnz075Food and Drug Administration. Neurontin label.
Markley HG, Dunteman ED, Kareht S, Sweeney M.Real-world experience with once-daily gabapentin for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).Clin J Pain. 2015;31(1):58-65. doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000082
Bockbrader HN, Wesche D, Miller R, Chapel S, Janiczek N, Burger P.A comparison of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pregabalin and gabapentin.Clin Pharmacokinet.2010;49(10):661-669. doi:10.2165/11536200-000000000-00000
Moore J, Gaines C.Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.Br J Community Nurs.2019;24(12):608-609. doi:10.12968/bjcn.2019.24.12.608
DailyMed.Label: Neurontin- gabapentin capsule, Neurontin- gabapentin tablet, film coated, Neurontin- gabapentin solution.
Cooper TE, Derry S, Wiffen PJ, Moore RA.Gabapentin for fibromyalgia pain in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;1(1):CD012188. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012188.pub2
Weresch J, Kirkwood J, Korownyk CS.Gabapentin for alcohol use disorder.Can Fam Physician. 2021;67(4):269. doi:10.46747/cfp.6704269
DailyMed.Label: Horizant- gabapentin enacarbil tablet, extended release.
DailyMed.Label: Gralise- gabapentin tablet, film coated, Gralise Starter Pack- gabapentin kit.
Xu L, Zhang Y, Huang Y.Advances in the treatment of neuropathic pain.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2016;904:117-129. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-7537-3_9
Wiffen PJ, Derry S, Bell RF, et al.Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;6(6):CD007938. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007938.pub4
Beal B, Moeller-Bertram T, Schilling JM, Wallace MS.Gabapentin for once-daily treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia: a review.Clin Interv Aging. 2012;7:249-255. doi:10.2147/CIA.S23783
Bates D, Schultheis BC, Hanes MC, et al.A comprehensive algorithm for management of neuropathic pain.Pain Med. 2019;20(Suppl 1):S2-S12. doi:10.1093/pm/pnz075
Food and Drug Administration. Neurontin label.
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