This sheet is about exposure to gabapentin in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information is based on available published literature. It should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is gabapentin? Gabapentin is a medication that has been used to prevent and control partial seizures, treat some forms [] -Some authorities suggest discontinuing nursing or discontinuing use of this drug while breastfeeding due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed infant. With maternal doses up to 2.1 g/day, estimated doses for fully breastfed infants are 0.2 to 1.3 mg/kg/day (equivalent to 1.3 to 3.8% of the maternal weight-adjusted dose). Limited information indicates that maternal doses of gabapentin up to 2.1 grams daily produce relatively low levels in infant serum. Monitor the infant for drowsiness, adequate weight gain, and developmental milestones, especially in younger, exclusively breastfed infants and when using combinations of anticonvulsant or psychotropic drugs. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant medication commonly prescribed for epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and various off-label uses. Understanding proper nursing considerations is crucial for safe and effective patient care. In this article, you’ll learn about Gabapentin (Neurontin) nursing implications and patient teachings. Also, its dosage, indication, contraindications, interactions, side effects, nursing assessment, and nursing interventions. Generic Name: Gabapentin. Brand Names: Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant. What are the indications of gabapentin (Neurontin)? Selected References: Blotiere PO, et al. 2020. Risk of early neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with prenatal exposure to the antiepileptic drugs most commonly used during pregnancy: a French nationwide population-based cohort study. BMJ Open 10(6). Brannon GE, Rolland PD. Anorgasmia in a patient with bipolar disorder type 1 treated with gabapentin. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000;20(3):379 An expert consensus guideline indicates that gabapentin is an acceptable choice for refractory restless leg syndrome during lactation. [2] In published reports of anticonvulsant use during breastfeeding, most women were taking a combination of anticonvulsants. DrLact safety Score for Gabapentin is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses. A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Gabapentin is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby. Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Gabapentin does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers. We use Gabapentin for the prevention of seizures for peripheral neuropathy, for neuropathic pain and for the prevention of migraines. So some of the side effects that we see with Gabapentin are things like drowsiness, facial edema, hypertension, and confusion. So let's take a look at a few nursing considerations. Identify appropriate indications for use of gabapentin. Relate general characteristics of gabapentin to specific patient situations. Apply nursing process considerations for gabapentin to specific patient situations. Correctly calculate dosage for gabapentin. Usually, healthy, full-term newborns safely tolerate the amounts of gabapentin (Neurontin) they are exposed to through the breastmilk. If your physician believes that taking gabapentin while breastfeeding is more beneficial, be sure to monitor for possible side effects on your infant. It should be used with caution during breastfeeding [14,42,43,53,54], also according to the AAP . The clinical assessment of its use during breastfeeding is similar to phenobarbital. Tiagabine. Tiagabine oral absorption is almost complete and it is highly bound to plasma proteins . There are no studies on its use during breastfeeding, leading Nursing Considerations for Gabapentin. When administering or caring for patients taking gabapentin, nurses should consider several important factors. Nursing Assessment. 1. Assess the patient’s medical history, including any known allergies, previous adverse reactions to gabapentin or similar medications, and relevant medical conditions. Most antiepileptic drugs that have breastfeeding information reported appear to be acceptable to use during breastfeeding as single agents. Long-term follow-up data indicate that maternal carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, and valproate cause no long-term developmental problems in breastfed infants. Nursing considerations Assessment. History: Hypersensitivity to gabapentin; lactation, pregnancy; Physical: Weight; T; skin color, lesions; orientation, affect, reflexes; P; R, adventitious sounds; bowel sounds, normal output; Interventions. Give drug with food to prevent GI upset. Arrange for consultation with support groups for people with • Kristensen JH, Ilett KF, Hackett LP, Kohan R, Gabapentin and breastfeeding: a case report, J Hum Lact, 2006;22:426–8. • Öhman I, Vitols S, Tomson T, Pharmacokinetics of gabapentin during delivery, in the neonatal period, and lactation: does a fetal accumulation occur during pregnancy? Epilepsia, 2005;46:1621–4. Gabapentin is considered compatible with breastfeeding, but should be used with caution and infant monitoring. Evidence. Published evidence for the use of gabapentin during breastfeeding is very limited. Data is from 10 mothers using gabapentin doses up to 2.1g daily. Breast milk levels and infant absorption Gabapentin is a medication that has been used to prevent and control partial seizures, treat some forms of nerve pain, and treat moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome. Some brand names are Horizant®, Gralise® and Neurontin®. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant used in the prevention of partial seizures. It is frequently used for neuropathic pain including diabetic neuropathy, radiculopathy, shingles, and trigeminal neuralgia. Certain medicines when used while breastfeeding may cause harm or unwanted side effects in the baby. Some medicines may affect breast milk production or supply. It is important that you talk to your healthcare team before starting, stopping or changing medicines while breastfeeding. Whether medicine affects the baby during breastfeeding depends on:
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