Neurontin. 300 mg. 100 capsules

Neurontin WHAT IS AND WHAT IT IS USED
Neurontin a medicament for the treatment of some forms of epilepsy ( antiepileptic ) and to control the pain with a specific origin ( neuropathic pain ) .
Monotherapy for the treatment of partial onset seizures (a form of epilepsy) with or without secondary generalization in adults and children over 12 years.
Adjunctive therapy in adults and children 3 years and older with partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalization.
Neuropathic pain in adults for the management of neuropathic pain ( pain due to nerve damage ) in adults aged 18 and older.

2 . BEFORE YOU TAKE neurontin
Do not take NEURONTINM
if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to gabapentin or any of the other ingredients of neurontin .
Epilepsy : Still not enough experience for self-administration of neurontin in children aged under 12 years.
Still not enough experience with neurontin add-on therapy in children under 3 years.
Neuropathic pain in adults: still not enough experience to manage neuropathic pain in children and adolescents under 18 years.

Take special care with neurontin
Small number of people being treated with antiepileptics such as gabapentin have had thoughts of harming or killing themselves. If occur, immediately contact your doctor.
Renal impairment : The dose of neurontin should be reduced in these patients (see t.Z How to take neurontin ) .
The interval between doses should not exceed 12 hours , as may occur attacks.
Neurontin treatment should not be stopped abruptly , as this may lead to a deterioration of your illness .
Patients who require concomitant therapy with morphine , it can receive the increased concentrations of neurontin . Such patients should be closely monitored for signs of depression of the central nervous system such as drowsiness . In this case, your doctor will appropriately reduced doses of neurontin or morphine.

Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Tell your doctor if you are on medication or have a treatment with morphine.
Was studied interactions between neurontin and other AEDs ( phenytoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine and phenobarbital) . In these studies there were no significant changes in plasma concentrations of these drugs in patients who have received them as a major anti-epileptic therapy when it was added neurontin .
Co-administration of neurontin and antacids (medicines for excess stomach acid ) can reduce the absorption of neurontin gastrointestinal tract by about 20 %. Therefore, neurontin should be taken about 2 hours after taking antacids .
Concomitant use of neurontin and birth control pills containing norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol, does not alter the operation of any of the ingredients .
Elimination of neurontin renal slightly reduced when taken concurrently with cimetidine (a medicine for excess stomach acid ) , which is clinically not relevant .
Probenecid does not alter the elimination of the kidney neurontin .
False positive results can be obtained in the determination of total protein in the urine dipstick . It is therefore advisable to check the doctor such a positive result of a test strip or other process from the beginning to use these alternative methods.
Please note that the above information interaction applies to medicines, when taken before a very short period of time.

Taking neurontin with food and drink
Your doctor should also be informed of any use of alcohol or use of drugs causing addiction. The reason for this is that many of the side effects of neurontin CNS such as drowsiness , unsteadiness of gait ( ataxia ) , etc. may be worsened by alcohol or drugs.

Pregnancy and lactation
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine . Neurontin should not be taken during pregnancy only after careful risk / benefit as there is no experience available for use in pregnant women.
Studies in animals have not shown teratogenic effects ( malformations ) of neurontin .
If you are pregnant , become pregnant during treatment with neurontin or planning to become pregnant , please consult your doctor.
Neurontin is excreted in breast milk and the effect on the nursing infant is unknown. You should tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Driving and using machines
Neurontin influences the central nervous system (CNS ) and can cause one or another way drowsiness , fatigue, dizziness or other related symptoms as a result of suppression of CNS. Therefore, the effects may be delayed to such an extent that the ability to drive and use machines to be highly distorted. This is especially true for the beginning of treatment , increasing the dose or if the drug is changed , as well as in combination with alcohol. So until you know what effects this drug has on you, do not drive or operate hazardous machinery.

3 . HOW TO TAKE neurontin
Always take neurontin exactly as your doctor tells you . If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

What neurontin dosage should be taken
For individualizing dosage available neurontin capsules of 100 , 300 or 400 mg.
The dose is determined by the physician according to individual tolerability and effect. The daily dose should be divided into three equal doses administered at regular intervals.
The dose of neurontin may be increased stepwise or be initiated at a therapeutic dose . This will solve your doctor . The total daily dose should not exceed 3600 mg in patients over the age of 12 and 50 mg / kg / day for children from 3 to 12 years.
Your doctor may reduce the dose in patients with reduced renal function (creatinine clearance less than 80 ml / min) or patients on hemodialysis.
Please follow these instructions as otherwise neurontin may be ineffective.

How and when should be taken neurontin
Neurontin capsules should be swallowed whole with sufficient fluid. The daily dose should be divided so that the interval between two doses should not exceed 12 hours.
If neurontin should be taken with antacids (medicines for excess stomach acid ) containing magnesium or aluminum salts , it should take about two hours after taking antacids . Thus, to a large extent prevents the decrease in absorption of neurontin (see other medicines ) .

How long should be taken neurontin
The duration of treatment depends on clinical indications. In the treatment of epilepsy typically requires long-term therapy .
In the treatment of neuropathic pain efficacy and safety have not been studied for a period longer than five months.

If you take more dose neurontin
Overdose of neurontin may experience dizziness , double vision, impaired speech, drowsiness , lethargy and mild diarrhea .
Tell your doctor immediately ! He will decide what to do according to the manifestation of clinical symptoms.
Neurontin may be removed from circulation by hemodialysis. Experience shows that this is not usually necessary .
Hemodialysis may be indicated for patients with reduced renal function.

If you forget to take neurontin
Your doctor will tell you whether the missed dose neurontin (when the last dose is taken more than 12 hours ) must be replaced by an additional dose .

If you stop taking neurontin
You do not have willfully interrupting treatment with neurontin .
If neurontin therapy should be discontinued , withdrawal should be done gradually over at least a week , even in the absence of signs of " rebound " phenomenon ( increased frequency of epileptic seizures when therapy is stopped suddenly ) of neurontin .

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4 . POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, neurontin can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them .
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms after taking neurontin as they can be serious :
Severe skin reactions, which may require caution , swelling of lips and face , skin rash , redness, and / or hair loss (this can be symptoms of a serious allergic reaction) ;
Persistent abdominal pain , malaise, as these may be symptoms of acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Neurontin can cause serious or life-threatening allergic reaction that can affect your skin or other parts of your body such as your liver or your blood . When you get such a reaction may or may not have a rash. You may need to go to hospital or to stop taking neurontin . Please tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
skin rash ;
bubbles ;
fever ;
swelling of the glands that persists ;
swelling of the lips and tongue ;
yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes ;
unusual bruising or bleeding ;
fatigue or weakness ;
unexpected muscle pain ;
frequent infections .
These symptoms may be early signs of a serious reaction. You should see a doctor to determine whether to continue treatment with neurontin .

If you are on dialysis , tell your doctor if the manifestations muscle pain and / or weakness.

Other side effects include :
Very common side effects (likely to occur in more than 1 patient in 10 ):
Viral infection ;
Drowsiness, dizziness , loss of coordination;
Fatigue, fever.
Common side effects (likely to occur in fewer than 1 in 10 patients):
Pneumonia , respiratory infection , urinary tract infection , ear infection or other infections ;
Decreased number of white blood cells;
Anorexia, increased appetite;
Hostility , confusion , mood changes , depression, anxiety , nervousness , difficulty thinking;
Seizures, jerky movements , difficulty speaking , memory loss , tremors , insomnia , headache, skin sensitivity , low sensitivity, difficulty with coordination , unusual movements of the eyes , decreased , increased or absent reflexes ;
Blurred vision , double vision ;
dizziness ;
Increased blood pressure, flushing or dilation of blood vessels ;
Difficulty breathing, sore throat , cough, nasal dryness ;
Vomiting, nausea, problems with teeth, gingivitis , diarrhea, stomach pain, indigestion , constipation , dry mouth or throat , flatulence ;
Facial swelling, bruising, rash , itching , acne ;
Joint pain, muscle pain , back pain , muscle twitching ;
Erection problems ( impotence ) ;
Swelling of the arms and legs, difficulty walking , weakness , pain , malaise, flu-like symptoms ;
Reduced number of white blood cells , increase in weight ;
Accidental injury , fracture, abrasion .
In addition, in clinical trials in children are frequently reported aggressive behavior and sudden movements.

Uncommon side effects (likely to occur in fewer than 1 in 100 patients):
Allergic reactions such as blistering ;
Reduced movements;
Rapid heartbeat ;
Swelling, which may include the face , trunk and limbs ;
Blood tests that show changes in the functioning of the liver.
After placing the drug on the market , reported the following adverse reactions :
Reducing the number of platelets (blood cells responsible for blood clotting) ;
hallucinations;
Problems with abnormal movements , such as seizures, jerky movements and stiffness ;
Ringing in the ears ;
Group side effects, which may include swollen lymph nodes ( isolated , small bumps under the skin ) , fever , rash occurring simultaneously , and inflammation of the liver ;
Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), inflammation of the liver ;
Acute renal failure, urinary incontinence (involuntary urination ) ;
Increase breast size ;
Adverse reactions due to abrupt discontinuation of neurontin ( anxiety, insomnia, nausea , pain , sweating ) , chest pain;
Changes in blood glucose levels in diabetic patients .
If any of the side effects gets serious, or you notice other effects not listed in this leaflet , please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

5 . HOW TO STORE neurontin
Do not store above 30 ° C.
Keep out of reach of children.
Do not use neurontin after the expiry date stated on the carton and blister. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

6 . ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
What does neurontin
The active substance is gabapentin .
Other ingredients are: lactose , corn starch and talc .

Excipients in the capsule shell:
Neurontin 100 mg capsules : Gelatin , sodium lauryl sulfate , water, titanium dioxide ( E171 ) .
Neurontin 300 mg capsules : Gelatin , sodium lauryl sulfate , water, titanium dioxide ( E 171 ) , yellow iron oxide (E 172).
Neurontin 400 mg capsules: gelatin , sodium lauryl sulfate , water, titanium dioxide ( E171 ), iron oxide yellow (E172 ), iron oxide red (E172) .

Neurontin looks like and contents of the pack
Neurontin 100 mg capsules - x 20 x 100 ;
Neurontin 300 mg capsules - x 50 x 100 ;
Neurontin 400 mg capsules - x 50 x 100 .