What is Gabapentin 600 mg?
Gabapentin 600 mg is a commonly used antiseizure / anticonvulsant drug. It is taken for the treatment of nerve pains and for fits or seizures. It is popular among people living with diabetes, and are having nerve pains or other related nerve-related conditions. The main ingredients help reduce spells of focal seizures or localised fits. You need to know this kind of seizures impacts a part of the cerebral system.
What is Gabapentin 600mg used for?
Gabapentin 600mg is an anti-epileptic medication used to treat seizure disorders caused by epilepsy and nerve damage caused by postherpetic neuralgia. This drug belongs to a class of medications called anti-convulsants. This medicine may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Essential items gabapentin 600 mg is made of can change the % of calcium in your body. Presence or absence of needful calcium content is linked to the likely onset of seizures, especially localised kind of convulsions. You can purchase this med with relative ease upon having a valid prescription from your treating physician.
What does a Gabapentin pill look like?
Most gabapentin pills are white in color. Capsules may appear yellow or white depending on their dosage strength.
What is the recommended dosage of Gabapentin?
The dosage of Gabapentin prescribed to each patient will vary. Always follow your physician’s instructions and/or the directions on the prescription drug label.
Gabapentin can be taken with or without food.
How long does it take for Gabapentin 600 mg to work?
Research work done on this front show that gabapentin 600 mg may require a few weeks’ time to reach its fullest treatment potential. Caregivers tend to write medication plans that span 6 – 7 weeks’ time for treating nerve conditions such as pain or inflammation. Also, it is difficult to predict the timeline of your treatment plan. This is mainly because no two people may have the same nerve condition or a similar intensity of pain. Hence, the duration of your medication plan is influenced by how acute is your nerve pain, your age, other drugs you are presently taking, other ailments or medical problems that co-exist with painful nerves.
First few doses are always at a least possible strength
Timeline of treatment plans change according to how the system reacts to the first dosages of this anticonvulsant drug. The way your body reacts to an initial dose(s) of gabapentin 600 mg might be quite different from another person’s way of responding to it. So, your doctor will start with the least possible dosage level and slowly enhance the dosages. In short, how long the plan lasts solely depends on the decision of your treating doctor.
What if you miss a dose of Gabapentin?
If your physician has instructed or directed you to take Gabapentin medication in a regular schedule and you have missed a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the doses unless otherwise directed.
What if you overdose on Gabapentin 600 mg?
Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose of Gabapentin, seek medical attention immediately.
How much Gabapentin is overdose?
As a step towards added safety, caregiving teams are more likely to commence medication plans at very low strength. If your body is not reacting in an undesired way or is not displaying any unpleasant side effects, strength of doses is gradually enhanced. Such measures of starting at a lower dose, invariably push the timeline of your treatment plan.
For instance, users who are taking this med for the treatment of nerve pains find their first few dosages pegged at as low as 100 milligrams. Of course, after assessment of the side effects as well as likely episodes of allergic reactions, dosages are boosted upward in a slow and steady fashion for the balance part of your dosage plan.
Some people consume an excessive dosage of gabapentin. They consume such doses for many reasons. A key reason is: users think that an intake of an overdose makes them to get well soon i.e., sooner than how a normal dose. In some cases, users who forgot to take dose took an extra dosage for making up the dose they missed. Such practices are not considered as safe, and both can result in an overdosed condition.
You need to remember that doses of 2,400 mg are considered as well-tolerated among grown-up users. In a few one-off cases, doses of 3,000 mg have been administered, of course for a short timeline of 7 days’ time. Such short term, high doses are also known to be tolerated without much adverse effects. But, continued intake of this med, in excess of 3,200 mg, may cause overdosing or a build-up of toxicity.
How to find out if you have consumed an excessive dose of this drug?
You can detect if you have taken an overdose via some of the symptoms of excessive dosing. Such symptoms are being dizzy soon after taking the dose, prolonged episodes of staying dizzy, loss of hand-eye coordination, respiratory problems such as panting for breath, wheezing or gasping. In some very remote instances, users of an excessive dose have passing out resulting in a complete loss of their consciousness.
Upon observing any of the abovementioned signs, it is essential to establish quick contact with the treating physician or pharmacist. Those who are residents of the US must reach out to 911 on an urgent mode. US residents may also consider calling the helpdesk of the US-based, drug clearing body the food and drug administration (FDA). This nodal agency has its own helplines and support desk to receive complaints and redress severe side effects the meds this body clears.
On the other hand, users who live in a Canadian province are advised to call a poison control unit operating closer to their home. As an alternative measure, Canadian residents may also contact Health Canada on an emergency basis.
How much Gabapentin for sleep?
Most caregivers use this med through an off-label mode to promote sleep among patients. Most widely used dosage form is to make you fall asleep ranges between 1,200 – 1,600 milligrams (mg). Caveat: A long term use of this med can make it form as a die-hard habit. Hence, it is important to talk to your caregiver about the duration of your medication plan and how to bring the dosages to a stop in a tapered fashion.
What other drugs could interact with Gabapentin?
- Hydrocodone
- Morphine
- Naproxen
It may be noted that drugs other than those listed above may also interact with Gabapentin.
Usually drug interactions occur when it is taken with another drug or with food. Before you take a medication for a particular ailment, you should inform the health expert about intake of any other medications including non-prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines that may increase the effect of Gabapentin, and dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals and herbal, so that the doctor can warn you of any possible drug interactions.
Do let your doctor know if you smoke, consume alcohol or caffeinated drinks, or use illegal drugs as these may interfere with the action of your medication. Make sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions you may have, or any family history of medical problems. Do not start or stop using any medicine without consulting your doctor.
What are the side effects of Gabapentin 600mg?
Like other medicines, Gabapentin 600mg can cause some side effects. If they do occur, the side effects of Gabapentin are most likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and may require the individual to inform the doctor or visit the nearest hospital immediately.
It is pertinent to note that side effects of Gabapentin 600mg cannot be anticipated. If any side effects of Gabapentin develop or change in intensity, the doctor should be informed as soon as possible.
Gabapentin can cause side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, loss of appetite, and dry mouth. This is not a complete list of all side effects. Do concur with your doctor and follow his directions completely when you are taking Gabapentin.
Prior to starting your medication plan, it is essential to know gabapentin 600 mg side effects. This anticonvulsant med is likely to trigger a few side effects. A few of the most often encountered gabapentin 600 mg side effects are spells of migraines, symptoms of infection such as increase in body temperature, abdominal conditions like nausea, indigestion, vomiting, etc. Due to these likely adverse effects, it is a safe practice to know of all possible counterproductive outcomes gabapentin 600 mg can trigger.
If you are experiencing very adverse effects like inflammation of your lips, tongue or gums, swelling of facial parts like cheeks, troubles while breathing such as gasping or panting, it is highly recommended to seek medical assistance as quickly as possible.
Those who have experienced earlier spells of allergies or hypersensitivity to drugs belonging to the same genre as gabapentin need to inform your doctor and / or pharmacist of the nature of allergies. Some people report allergies in the form of inflammation of skin, hives, formation of blisters, etc. Your caregiver must stay aware of the onset of all such skin problems on an emergency basis.
Last but not the least, if you intend avoiding adverse side effects and unpleasant outcomes, stay away from taking 600 mg gabapentin through the self-medication route. As an extended precaution, do not attempt to use it through over the counter means. You are safe when you use this antiseizure med according to the instructions of your treating physician. In this light, you also need to understand from your doctor about how to discontinue the intake of this drug.
Signs of withdrawal gabapentin 600 mg triggers
As outlined above, it is a safe thing to stop the medication plan after taking needful guidance from a qualified caregiver or pharmacist. You may encounter a few problems such as symptoms of withdrawal if you are stopping the intake all of a sudden. Those who stopped taking 600 mg gabapentin suddenly faced insomnia / inability to fall asleep or spells of disturbed sleeping cycles, getting too very restless, episodes of anxieties, abdominal pains, vomiting as well as nausea.
If you have been taking 600 mg gabapentin for treating partial seizures or localised convulsions, an abrupt stop of meds can restart spells of convulsions for which you started the medication plan.
Studies done on signs of withdrawal indicate that most signs of a sudden stop of gabapentin 600 mg are likely to occur in about 16 hours’ time from your last dose. These discomforts may start as some form of anxiety or restlessness, giddiness or drowsiness, etc. Users who took gabapentin 600 mg for more than 20 days saw very adverse signs of withdrawal like severe episodes of migraine coupled with nervousness.
In most users, the typical signs of a sudden withdrawal of 600 mg gabapentin may last for a week’s time. In a few remote instances, adverse effects have continued for 2 weeks or beyond. The duration of these withdrawal-signs depends upon several factors. Key among them include the timeline of your medication plan, strength of each dose, how many dosages you took the med every day, etc.
How to manage withdrawal symptoms of gabapentin 600 mg?
Physicians never stop these meds all of a sudden. They know that putting a sudden end to your dosages can soon trigger symptoms of withdrawal. Hence, most caregivers and pharmacists employ a safe technique to bring your dosage plan to a halt. The strength of doses is tapered to a lower level by the end of the treatment plan.
Also, while you are taking these meds, space each dose out with evenly distributed time intervals. Ensure the last dose of each day is taken at least 30 – 40 minutes prior to your usual bedtime. For more information, talk to your caregiving team and / or pharmacist of safer practices to use 600 mg gabapentin.
What are the Alternatives to Gabapentin?
Gabapentin medicine is an anti-epileptic drug which is prescribed off-label for the treatment of a variety of conditions.
Top 5 gabapentin alternatives are mentioned below:
Cymbalta: Cymbalta is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine which reuptakes inhibitor antidepressant (SNRI). This medicine is approved for the management of depression, neuropathic pain, anxiety, fibromyalgia, and musculoskeletal pain.
Elavil: Elavil medication is a tricyclic antidepressant which is commonly used in place of gabapentin medicine for various types of nerve pain. This is an FDA-approved for the treatment of condition like depression but has an off-label use for neuropathic pain.
Klonopin: Klonopin is a medicine which is a benzodiazepine that is approved for the treatment of seizure and panic disorders in adults and children.
Lidoderm: Lidoderm medicine is a local anesthetic which helps in blocking the nerves in the body to lower the pain. It is used for the treatment of post-shingles which is similar to gabapentin.
Lyrica: Lyrica medication is a controlled substance and anticonvulsant like gabapentin. This medicine is approved for the management of fibromyalgia and nerve pain from condition like diabetes, post-herpetic infection, or spinal cord injury.
How to get Gabapentin?
A few users attempt to buy gabapentin 600 mg or other such antiseizure meds through over the counter (OTC) route / self-medication mode. This is certainly not a safe option to consider. This drug can be procured by producing a prescription of your physician or caregiving team. But, a few other meds of this genre are in fact sold through the OTC route. They do come with their won risks and precautions. It is always a safe thing to check with a qualified caregiver prior to taking any step on OTC / self-mediation modes.
You are advised to stay mindful of potential limitations of drugs taken through OTC approach. Most drugs of the OTC genre may need additional evidences of their therapeutic properties. Another caveat is: the remedies OTC products render may be of short term nature. Hence, before opting to buy an anticonvulsant med through the self-medication approach, consult with your doctor making a purchase.
How effective is Gabapentin 600mg for nerve pain?
The results of medicine Gabapentin 600mg over the counter shows that 30 to 40% of people taking gabapentin were able to reduce the pain by half or more, compared to 10 to 20% of people consuming the placebo. Although some people might attain significant relief, which others might also have side effects without having any sort of relief of pain.
Where can I buy Gabapentin 600mg over the counter?
No, you cannot get the medicine Gabapentin 600mg over the counter. You will need a proper prescription before one can receive the medication gabapentin or Neurontin. This amazing Gabapentin and Neurontin medicine is not available over the counter and must be prescribed by a licensed doctor only. Gabapentin without prescription is not classified as a controlled substance in most of the states and it can be prescribed online in 43 out of 50 states.
Can I buy Gabapentin 600mg without a prescription?
Gabapentin medicine is not sold as a Gabapentin 600mg over the counter medication. You shall also need a prescription for gabapentin from your healthcare provider. One shall need to fill the prescription at a pharmacy. Gabapentin without prescription belongs to the family of medicines known as antiepileptic medicine that is used for the treatment of epilepsy (seizures) when other treatments might have not worked.
How much is Gabapentin 600 mg without insurance?
Gabapentin 600 mg price changes from one place to another. The price also depends on the kind drugstore your buy this medication from. Moreover, where you reside in US has a bearing on the price of gabapentin 600.
People who aim to buy gabapentin 600 mg can benefit from an online drugstore known as internationaldrugmart. This online pharmacy provides various cost-effective routes to buy gabapentin 600 mg online. Such online drug sellers can aid in reducing prices, chiefly to users who do not have an insurance cover.
Gabapentin 600 mg price through this online drugstore is known to hover at costs much lower than what other pharmacies and drugstores sell at. You can leverage this advantage and buy meds at cheaper prices.
How much does Gabapentin 600 mg cost?
Gabapentin 600 mg cost ranges from ~ USD 7 for 30 oral tablets. This is an average rate offered by online stores that sell drugs. In this light, internationaldrugmart offers gabapentin 600 mg at relatively lower costs. This offering supports price-conscious users to avail anticonvulsant drugs at very competitive costs.
Further, internationaldrugmart extends added room to shoppers of drugs to attain major savings each time they buy gabapentin 600 mg online. This website is quite popular among those who live without an active coverage or insurance scheme to handle their healthcare costs. You may visit this website know how much is gabapentin 600 mg without insurance, and compare it with other online pharmacies prior to filling your prescription.
What are the questions to ask your doctor before taking Gabapentin 600mg tablet?
Is it possible for me to take Gabapentin with other drugs?
Should certain beverages, foods and other products be avoided when I take Gabapentin?
What are the possible drug interactions of Gabapentin?
How will Gabapentin work in my body?
How should Gabapentin be taken?
How to reduce the risk of Gabapentin drug interactions and side effects?
Note
The health and medical information provided here is intended to supplement and not substitute for the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacists or other health care professional. It should not be understood to indicate that the use of Gabapentin is safe, appropriate or effective for you. Always consult your health care professional before using this, or any other, drug.