Introduction:
Gabapentin is originally used as an antiseizure drug and other medications in that same category. It is also used for treating depression disorders and more. Alternative use of Gabapentin is in relieving nerve pain. It is normally prescribed when the pain is not under control with other routine pain medicines. Doctors dealing with neurological and musculoskeletal problems widely use Gabapentin. It is not going to cure the underlying cause of nerve pain, but it helps in relieving the symptoms.
How Does Gabapentin Work to Relieve Nerve Pain?
Pain is perceived in the brain when the nerves communicate this sensation as electrical signals and chemicals known as neurotransmitters. As the nerves fire up, sending electrical impulses to induce pain sensation, Gabapentin can calm them down. This means that Gabapentin will prevent the production of these electrical impulses so that the pain is felt less frequently and less intensely. Also, it directly affects the nerve cells that are concerned with the perception of pain (pain receptors) and helps reduce pain sensation. One should remember that the pain will return upon stopping the Gabapentin doses.
What Are the Types of Pains One Can Treat With Gabapentin?
In general, Gabapentin may alleviate nerve pains and improve the quality of life. It comes in handy for alleviating pain in the following situations:
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For relieving inflammatory postherpetic neuralgia, which is the pain from shingles.
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In nerve compressions, especially if correcting whatever is pinching the nerve takes a long time.
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One may take Gabapentin if the course of treatments is longer. If the rehabilitation process involves exercises that may be painful.
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When somebody does not opt for a surgical cure to correct the underlying cause of nerve pain or if one cannot undergo surgery due to other reasons like old age or medical conditions.
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In treating diabetic neuropathy.
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To cure long-term pain after surgical procedures, which may be due to nerve damage at the procedure's time. For instance, in open-heart surgery. One may start taking the drug before surgery for good results.
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Also, for treating sciatica (lower body and back pain due to nerve compression), fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (long-term pain after injuries), or phantom limb pain (imaginary pain one may feel in the area of a missing limb after it is removed).
How Soon Can Gabapentin Start Relieving the Pain?
Most people start to see good results within two weeks after starting the drug. For some, it may take longer. It takes a while for the doctor to decide on what dose is optimum for pain relief, as it varies from person to person. Sometimes, the doctor may prescribe an additional pain medicine along with Gabapentin for the best results.
How Can One Determine the Optimal Gabapentin Dosage for Nerve pain?
The optimal dose of Gabapentin is determined by gradually increasing doses over time. Here is an example:
For treating nerve pain, one may recommend three doses of Gabapentin in a day divided into morning, afternoon, and evening doses. One may start with a low dose of 100 mg at night. Slowly increase the dose by adding another 100 mg at noon. And add another 100 mg in the morning gradually. This may be increased after two weeks to 600 mg per day divided into three doses of 200 mg. With incremental increases like this, one may reach the targeted dose optimum to relieve the pain symptoms.
The next step is to maintain the dose at this level and evaluate the pain symptoms. The goal is to understand whether this dose is adequate in relieving the pain. If the side effects are tolerable and do not harm the individual in any manner, one may increase the dose up to 2700 mg a day or a maximum of 3600 mg for better pain control. 3600 mg is counted as the highest possible dose one can take in a day, but usually, it is kept at 2700 mg.
A dosage of 1200 mg daily was found effective for moderate to severe neuropathic pain after shingles or from diabetes. Optimally, the daily dose of Gabapentin should not go too high or too low. Also, if one chooses to stop the drug, a medium to a high dose of Gabapentin requires gradual tapering of doses rather than abruptly stopping it. As it is also used in individuals suffering from seizures, stopping the drug suddenly may have unwanted side effects on the body. Another important matter to consider is the presence of kidney diseases. One should also take the negative effects into account when Gabapentin is taken along with other drugs.
What Are the Important Precautions to Be Practiced With Gabapentin Intake?
The side effects of Gabapentin are dose-dependent. The higher the doses, the higher the side effects. Overdosing on Gabapentin to dangerously high levels may stop the breathing process, and one may die. One should be keen on the following details while taking Gabapentin:
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It might make an individual sleepy, dizzy, or confused. So, it is always better to start the medicine at night. Especially for the elderly, this tends to avoid the risks of falls when they move around at night to use the bathroom and such.
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One should be mindful that it causes mood alterations sometimes, for the better and sometimes for the worse. Also, Gabapentin might affect memory. For instance, one may have trouble finding the right words while talking.
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One may take additional pain-relieving medicines like Paracetamol that belong to the category of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. But taking a sedative type of pain medication like Tramadol should be strictly avoided.
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Taking Gabapentin in the daytime may cause dizziness and issues with body balance. Doctors recommend avoiding activities like driving or operating heavy machinery until the doses are stabilized. Also, one may cut down on alcohol consumption.
Conclusion:
It is important to start Gabapentin intake with lower doses and gradually increase the dose with a doctor's help. And one should check with the doctor if the medicine is safe and appropriate for them. Remember that Gabapentin does not treat the primary cause of nerve pain. One should seek medical help to explore the cause and do the needful to correct it. But if the pain is getting in the way of performing the day-to-day activities, or the exercises necessary for better healing, Gabapentin can be a good choice of medicine.