Gabapentin is a prescription medication commonly used to manage conditions such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety disorders. It works by altering the way nerves communicate with the brain. Gabapentin is available in various forms and strengths, so it’s essential to follow your doctor’s dosing instructions carefully. Neurontin (gabapentin), generally prescribed for the treatment of nerve pain, is sometimes used to relieve severe pain caused by knee osteoarthritis (OA).Osteoarthritis, also known, as wear-and-tear arthritis, can often become so severe that joint replacement surgery is needed. Gabapentin is used to treat postherpetic neuralgia, a type nerve pain that can occur due to an outbreak of shingles, and restless legs syndrome (RLS), an uncomfortable urge to move your legs around, often at night. Gabapentin is used to control seizures, to treat nerve pain that can happen after having had shingles, and to treat a condition called restless legs syndrome. In addition to these FDA-approved uses, doctors sometimes prescribe gabapentin off-label. The general approach to the management of chronic non-cancer pain and nonpharmacologic therapies for chronic pain are discussed separately. Evaluation of chronic pain and the use of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain are also discussed separately. (See "Approach to the management of chronic non-cancer pain in adults".) Gabapentin may be used to treat: Nerve pain caused by a herpes zoster viral infection, also known as shingles. This pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), and it can be severe and chronic; Nerve pain as a result of diabetic neuropathy, which happens when nerves in the feet damaged by diabetes cause chronic burning pain. Gabapentin is approved to prevent and control partial seizures, relieve postherpetic neuralgia after shingles and moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome. Learn what side effects to watch for, drugs to avoid while taking gabapentin, how to take gabapentin and other important questions and answers. Gabapentin is widely used off-label for various chronic pain conditions and for the treatment of acute pain, making it now one of the most commonly described analgesic drugs The liberal use of gabapentin for both acute and chronic pain management has created quite some controversy. Recently, many prescribers have reached for gabapentin to treat back pain and a range of off-label uses. Gabapentin was originally developed as an anti-seizure medication. But healthcare professionals don’t just prescribe it for back pain. It’s also used for nerve pain, postsurgical pain, and occasionally anxiety. Gabapentin is approved to treat seizures and postherpetic neuralgia, a type of nerve pain from shingles. It is thought to work by changing how nerves send messages to your brain. It is also used off-label to treat other neuropathic pain conditions. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, known as SNRIs, that may be prescribed to relieve chronic pain include duloxetine (Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle), venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and milnacipran (Savella). Anti-seizure medications used to treat chronic nerve pain include gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin, Horizant) and pregabalin (Lyrica). Gabapentin is prescribed for long-term pain control. It isn't used to treat short-term pain. Researchers aren't sure exactly how it works, but it may change how your body feels and Gabapentin is commonly used to treat some types of nerve pain but is classified as an anticonvulsant medicine, not as an opioid or painkiller. Gabapentin was first approved in 1993 and is used to treat: Gabapentin works by affecting chemicals and nerves in the body that are involved in the cause of seizures and in some types of nerve pain. Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults. Bottom line. There is moderate‐quality evidence that oral gabapentin at doses of 1200 mg daily or more has an important effect on pain in some people with moderate or severe neuropathic pain after shingles or due to diabetes. Background. Neuropathic pain comes from damaged nerves. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant used to treat nerve related back pain, such as sciatica. Learn more about how gabapentin is used in sciatica treatment. Gabapentinoid drugs—specifically gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica)—are increasingly being prescribed for pain because physicians and patients seek alternatives to opioids in the
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