Gabapentin gabapentin

Brand Name: Gabapentin

Generic Name: GABAPENTIN

Drug Type: HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG

Route: ORAL

Dosage Form: SOLUTION

Data Current As Of: 2020-02-24

Gabapentin Oral Solution is indicated for:

• Management of postherpetic neuralgia in adults
• Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, with and without secondary generalization, in adults and pediatric patients 3 years and older with epilepsy

Gabapentin is not a scheduled drug.

Gabapentin does not exhibit affinity for benzodiazepine, opiate (mu, delta or kappa), or cannabinoid 1 receptor sites. A small number of postmarketing cases report gabapentin misuse and abuse. These individuals were taking higher than recommended doses of gabapentin for unapproved uses. Most of the individuals described in these reports had a history of poly-substance abuse or used gabapentin to relieve symptoms of withdrawal from other substances. When prescribing gabapentin carefully evaluate patients for a history of drug abuse and observe them for signs and symptoms of gabapentin misuse or abuse (e.g., development of tolerance, self-dose escalation, and drug-seeking behavior).

There are rare postmarketing reports of individuals experiencing withdrawal symptoms shortly after discontinuing higher than recommended doses of gabapentin used to treat illnesses for which the drug is not approved. Such symptoms included agitation, disorientation and confusion after suddenly discontinuing gabapentin that resolved after restarting gabapentin. Most of these individuals had a history of poly-substance abuse or used gabapentin to relieve symptoms of withdrawal from other substances. The dependence and abuse potential of gabapentin has not been evaluated in human studies.

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).

Administration Information

Inform patients that gabapentin is taken orally with or without food. Inform patients that, should they divide the scored 600 mg or 800 mg tablet in order to administer a half-tablet, they should take the unused half-tablet as the next dose. Advise patients to discard half-tablets not used within 28 days of dividing the scored tablet.

Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)/Multiorgan Hypersensitivity

Prior to initiation of treatment with gabapentin, instruct patients that a rash or other signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity (such as fever or lymphadenopathy) may herald a serious medical event and that the patient should report any such occurrence to a physician immediately [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] .

Anaphylaxis and Angioedema

Advise patients to discontinue gabapentin and seek medical care if they develop signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis or angioedema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] .

Dizziness and Somnolence and Effects on Driving and Operating Heavy Machinery

Advise patients that gabapentin may cause dizziness, somnolence, and other symptoms and signs of CNS depression. Other drugs with sedative properties may increase these symptoms. Accordingly, although patients' ability to determine their level of impairment can be unreliable, advise them neither to drive a car nor to operate other complex machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on gabapentin to gauge whether or not it affects their mental and/or motor performance adversely. Inform patients that it is not known how long this effect lasts [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Warnings and Precautions (5.4)] .

Suicidal Thinking and Behavior

Counsel the patient, their caregivers, and families that AEDs, including gabapentin, may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Advise patients of the need to be alert for the emergence or worsening of symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or the emergence of suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self-harm. Instruct patients to report behaviors of concern immediately to healthcare providers [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)] .

Use in Pregnancy

Instruct patients to notify their physician if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy, and to notify their physician if they are breast feeding or intend to breast feed during therapy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1) and (8.3)] .

Encourage patients to enroll in the NAAED Pregnancy Registry if they become pregnant. This registry is collecting information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. To enroll, patients can call the toll free number 1-888-233-2334 [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] .

Gabapentin Oral Solution

(gab-ah-PEN-tin)

Read the Medication Guide before you start taking gabapentin and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about gabapentin?

Do not stop taking gabapentin without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Stopping gabapentin suddenly can cause serious problems.

gabapentin can cause serious side effects including:

• Suicidal Thoughts. Like other antiepileptic drugs, gabapentin may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.

  Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

  • thoughts about suicide or dying
  • attempts to commit suicide
  • new or worse depression
  • new or worse anxiety
  • feeling agitated or restless
  • panic attacks
  • trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • new or worse irritability
  • acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
  • acting on dangerous impulses
  • an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
  • other unusual changes in behavior or mood

  How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?

  • Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
  • Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.

  Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.

  Do not stop taking gabapentin without first talking to a healthcare provider.

  • Stopping gabapentin suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
  • Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.
• Changes in behavior and thinking - Using gabapentin in children 3 to 12 years of age can cause emotional changes, aggressive behavior, problems with concentration, restlessness, changes in school performance, and hyperactivity.
• Gabapentin may cause serious or life-threatening allergic reactionsthat may affect your skin or other parts of your body such as your liver or blood cells. This may cause you to be hospitalized or to stop gabapentin. You may or may not have a rash with an allergic reaction caused by gabapentin. Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
  • skin rash
  • hives
  • difficulty breathing
  • fever
  • swollen glands that do not go away
  • swelling of your face, lips, throat, or tongue
  • yellowing of your skin or of the whites of the eyes
  • unusual bruising or bleeding
  • severe fatigue or weakness
  • unexpected muscle pain
  • frequent infections

  These symptoms may be the first signs of a serious reaction. A healthcare provider should examine you to decide if you should continue taking gabapentin.

What is Gabapentin Oral Solution?

Gabapentin Oral Solution is a prescription medicine used to treat:

• Pain from damaged nerves (postherpetic pain) that follows healing of shingles (a painful rash that comes after a herpes zoster infection) in adults.
• Partial seizures when taken together with other medicines in adults and children 3 years of age and older with seizures.

Who should not take Gabapentin Oral Solution?

Do not take Gabapentin Oral Solutionin if you are allergic to gabapentin or any of the other ingredients in gabapentin. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in gabapentin.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking gabapentin?

Before taking gabapentin, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• have or have had kidney problems or are on hemodialysis
• have or have had depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior
• have diabetes
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if gabapentin can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking gabapentin. You and your healthcare provider will decide if you should take gabapentin while you are pregnant.
  • If you become pregnant while taking gabapentin, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334.
• are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Gabapentin can pass into breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide how you will feed your baby while you take gabapentin.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Taking gabapentin with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take Gabapentin Oral Solution?

• Take gabapentin exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much gabapentin to take.
  • Do not change your dose of gabapentin without talking to your healthcare provider.
• Gabapentin Oral Solution can be taken with or without food. If you take an antacid containing aluminum and magnesium, such as Maalox ^®, Mylanta ^®, Gelusil ^®, Gaviscon ^®, or Di-Gel ^®, you should wait at least 2 hours before taking your next dose of gabapentin.

If you take too much gabapentin, call your healthcare provider or your local Poison Control Center right away at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking Gabapentin Oral Solution?

• Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking gabapentin without first talking with your healthcare provider. Taking gabapentin with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse.
• Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how gabapentin affects you. Gabapentin can slow your thinking and motor skills.

What are the possible side effects of gabapentin?

Gabapentin may cause serious side effects including:

See " What is the most important information I should know about gabapentin?"

• problems driving while using gabapentin. See " What I should avoid while taking gabapentin?"
• sleepiness and dizziness, which could increase the occurrence of accidental injury, including falls
• The most common side effects of gabapentin include:
  • lack of coordination
  • viral infection
  • feeling drowsy
  • nausea and vomiting
  • difficulty with speaking
  • tremor
  • swelling, usually of legs and feet
  • feeling tired
  • fever
  • jerky movements
  • difficulty with coordination
  • double vision
  • unusual eye movement

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of gabapentin. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store Gabapentin Oral Solution?

• Store Gabapentin Oral Solution in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).

Keep gabapentin and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of gabapentin

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use gabapentin for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give gabapentin to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about gabapentin. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about gabapentin that was written for healthcare professionals.

For more information go to http://www.acellapharma.com. or call 1-800-541-4802.

What are the ingredients in Gabapentin Oral Solution?

Active ingredient: gabapentin

Inactive ingredients in the oral solution: anise flavor, artificial strawberry flavor, glycerin, hydrochloric acid, purified water, sodium hydroxide and xylitol.

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

For current full prescribing information, please visit www.acellapharma.com.

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ATLANTIC BIOLOGICALS CORP.

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