Understanding proper nursing considerations is crucial for safe and effective patient care. Generic name: Gabapentin. Brand names: Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant, Gabarone. Pharmacologic class: Anticonvulsant, Antiepileptic. Therapeutic class: Anticonvulsant, Analgesic for neuropathic pain. So let's take a look at a few nursing considerations. Gabapentin may cause suicidal thoughts, ataxia, or lack of muscle control and depression with these things in mind, monitor your patient for changes and behavior and depression while on Gabapentin, make sure you assess seizure activity and pain level in your patient, teach your patient to 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. Nursing Considerations Therapeutic Effects Side/Adverse Effects; Anticonvulsant: gabapentin: Administer first dose at bedtime to decrease dizziness and drowsiness Monitor for worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior Taper dose; do not stop abruptly: Decreased neuropathic pain or seizures Pregnancy considerations: A cohort study utilizing the US Medicaid dataset investigated gabapentin exposure during pregnancy from January 2000 to December 2013. While no significant associations were observed with major malformations, multiple administration of gabapentin was correlated with an increase in the risk of cardiac defects. Nursing Implications Monitor of therapeutic effectiveness; may not occur until several weeks following initiation of therapy, in those treated for seizure disorders , assess frequency of seizures: In rare cases, the drug has increased the frequency of partial seizures, Monitor dizziness and CNS depression, monitor for changes in behavior that 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. So let's take a look at a few nursing considerations. Gabapentin may cause suicidal thoughts, ataxia, or lack of muscle control and depression with these things in mind, monitor your patient for changes and behavior and depression while on Gabapentin, make sure you assess seizure activity and pain level in your patient, teach your patient to 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. nursing considerations As needed, open gabapentin capsules and mx contents with water, fruit juice, apple sauce or pudding before administration. Give drug at least 2 hours after an antacid. Gabapentin is used for partial seizures and neuropathic pain. Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan. This drug can cause harm to the fetus of pregnant women. Gabapentin use in pediatric patients with epilepsy 3 to 12 years of age is associated with the occurrence of central nervous system related adverse events. ANTIEPILEPTICS, PART 2: DRUG NAME: vigabatrin (Sabril) gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise) CLASS: GABA inhibitors: GABA analogues: MECHANISM OF ACTION: Prevent GABA reuptake into presynaptic neurons; ↑ GABA concentration in synapse; ↓ seizure activity Antiseizure agents (also known as antiepileptic drugs or as anticonvulsants) are drugs used to manage epilepsy, the most prevalent neurological disorder. Antiseizure agents of choice depends on the type of epilepsy, age of the patient, patient tolerance, and specific patient characteristics. Table of Common Drugs and Generic Names Here is a table of commonly encountered antiseizure agents Gabapentin is used for partial seizures and neuropathic pain. Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan. This drug can cause harm to the fetus of pregnant women. Gabapentin use in pediatric clients with epilepsy 3 to 12 years of age is associated with the occurrence of central nervous system-related adverse events. Gabapentin is one of the top 100 drugs prescribed in the US, so there’s a very good chance it will show up on NCLEX or your nursing school exams. Let’s go through the key things you need to know about this medication using the Straight A Nursing DRRUGS framework. Advise patient not to take gabapentin within 2 hr of an antacid. Gabapentin may cause dizziness and drowsiness. Caution patient to avoid driving or activities requiring alertness until response to medication is known. Seizure patients should not resume driving until physician gives clearance based on control of seizure disorder. Epilepsy: Starting dose is 300 mg PO tid, then titrated up as needed. Maintenance: 900–1,800 mg/day PO in divided doses tid PO; maximum interval between doses should not exceed 12 hr. Up to 2,400–3,600 mg/day has been used. Postherpetic neuralgia: Initial dose of 300 mg/day PO; 300 mg bid PO on day 2; 300 mg tid PO on day 3. Mechanism of action is not known. May affect transport of amino acids across and stabilize neuronal membranes. Therapeutic Effects: Decreased incidence of seizures. Decreased postherpetic pain. gabapentin (Neurontin) Disease Spotlight: Epilepsy. Nursing Considerations. Here are important nursing considerations when administering this drug: Nursing Patient Teaching Associated with Gabapentin. Advise the patient that gabapentin can be taken with or without food. Instruct to swallow extended-release tablets without breaking, crushing, dissolving, or chewing. Inform to take gabapentin at bedtime to minimize adverse effects. Do not suddenly stop gabapentin due to the increased risk of seizure.
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