Who should not use gabapentin?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take gabapentin.

Gralise

Neurontin

Gabapentin

Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all the ingredients in the specific gabapentin products they stock.

Do not take gabapentin unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed. Different forms of gabapentin are not interchangeable even if the strength is the same. Always follow the instructions given by your healthcare provider, and take the specific medicine prescribed to you.

Do not stop taking gabapentin without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping gabapentin suddenly can cause side effects, including seizures. If you need to stop taking gabapentin, your healthcare provider will give you instructions on how to stop the medicine.

Do not share gabapentin with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep gabapentin out of the reach of children. As the oral liquid must be kept in a refrigerator, take special precautions to keep it away from children who also use the refrigerator.

Some forms of gabapentin need to be taken with food. If you are unsure whether or not to take your medicine with food, ask your healthcare provider.

Do not chew, cut, or crush gabapentin capsules. Swallow them whole with water.

Some gabapentin tablets should not be chewed, cut, or crushed. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider about the best way to take your medicine. If you are told that it is okay to split a gabapentin tablet in half, take the other half at the time you are supposed to take your next dose. Throw away any unused half tablets within 28 days.

People who are 65 years of age or older can be at a greater risk for some side effects of gabapentin. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.

For gabapentin oral liquid, use an accurate measuring device to measure your dose. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask your pharmacist to recommend an appropriate measuring device.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if gabapentin is right for you.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.

Mental Health Problems. Tell your healthcare provider about any recent and current mental health problems, especially if you have had thoughts of suicide, have ever attempted suicide, or have depression or mood problems.

Other Medicines and Supplements. Gabapentin may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking gabapentin, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how gabapentin could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take gabapentin while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. You can register for the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry by calling 888-233-2334 if you become pregnant. This registry collects safety information about the use of anticonvulsant medicines during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding. Gabapentin passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take gabapentin while breastfeeding.