Gabapentin
One product sits on this shelf: Neurontin, the brand-name version of gabapentin, an anticonvulsant used for Partial Onset Seizures and Postherpetic Neuralgia. It comes in capsules from 100 mg to 800 mg.
Key points
- Some people can become addicted to gabapentin, and the dose must be reduced gradually when stopping to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
- Neurontin is the original brand of gabapentin, marketed by Pfizer; the active ingredient is identical across all five listed strengths.
- Gabapentin is cleared mainly by the kidneys and does not interfere with the liver enzymes that process most other medications.
How does Gabapentin work?
Listed under Neurology, gabapentin works by binding to specific calcium channels on nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This dampens the release of excitatory signals that drive seizure activity and nerve pain. It does not act on GABA receptors, despite its structural resemblance to GABA.
The medicine is eliminated almost entirely through the kidneys, with most of it leaving the body within about two days. It undergoes minimal breakdown in the liver and does not induce or inhibit the enzymes that metabolise most other drugs, which keeps its interaction profile narrow.