* = GENERIC.

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Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor, to help your condition as much as possible. Do not take more or less of it, and do not take it more or less often than your doctor ordered.

Gabapentin may be taken with or without food or on a full or empty stomach. However, if your doctor tells you to take the medicine a certain way, take it exactly as directed.

When taking gabapentin 3 times a day, do not allow more than 12 hours to pass between any 2 doses.

If you have trouble swallowing capsules, you may open the gabapentin capsule and mix the medicine with applesauce or juice. Mix only one dose at a time just before taking it. Do not mix any doses to save for later, because the medicine may change over time and may not work properly.

Dosing

The dose of gabapentin will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of gabapentin. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (capsules):
  • For epilepsy:
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older At first, 300 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase the dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1800 mg a day.
    • Children 3 to 12 years of age Dose is based on body weight. To start, 10 to 15 mg per kilogram (4.5 to 6.8 mg per pound) of body weight a day, divided into three doses. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. The usual dose for children 5 years of age and older is 25 to 35 mg per kilogram (11.3 to 15.9 mg per pound) of body weight a day, divided into three doses. The usual dose for children 3 to 5 years of age is 40 mg per kilogram (18.1 mg per pound) of body weight a day, divided into three doses.
    • Children less than 3 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults Dose must be determined by your doctor, but it is usually not more than 600 mg three times a day.
  • For postherpetic neuralgia
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 300 milligrams (mg) on day 1. On day 2, 300 milligrams (mg) two times a day. On day 3, 300 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may want to increase your dose to a maximum daily dose of 1800 milligrams (600 milligrams three times a day).
• For oral dosage form (oral solution):
  • For epilepsy:
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older At first, 300 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase the dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1800 mg a day.
    • Children 3 to 12 years of age Dose is based on body weight. To start, 10 to 15 mg per kilogram (4.5 to 6.8 mg per pound) of body weight a day, divided into three doses. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. The usual dose for children 5 years of age and older is 25 to 35 mg per kilogram (11.3 to 15.9 mg per pound) of body weight a day, divided into three doses. The usual dose for children 3 to 5 years of age is 40 mg per kilogram (18.1 mg per pound) of body weight a day, divided into three doses.
    • Children less than 3 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults Dose must be determined by your doctor, but it is usually not more than 600 mg three times a day.
  • For postherpetic neuralgia
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 300 milligrams (mg) on day 1. On day 2, 300 milligrams (mg) two times a day. On day 3, 300 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may want to increase your dose to a maximum daily dose of 1800 milligrams (600 milligrams three times a day).
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For epilepsy:
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older At first, 300 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase the dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1800 mg a day.
    • Children 3 to 12 years of age Dose is based on body weight. To start, 10 to 15 mg per kilogram (4.5 to 6.8 mg per pound) of body weight a day, divided into three doses. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. The usual dose for children 5 years of age and older is 25 to 35 mg per kilogram (11.3 to 15.9 mg per pound) of body weight a day, divided into three doses. The usual dose for children 3 to 5 years of age is 40 mg per kilogram (18.1 mg per pound) of body weight a day, divided into three doses.
    • Children less than 3 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults Dose must be determined by your doctor, but it is usually not more than 600 mg three times a day.
  • For postherpetic neuralgia
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 300 milligrams (mg) on day 1. On day 2, 300 milligrams (mg) two times a day. On day 3, 300 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may want to increase your dose to a maximum daily dose of 1800 milligrams (600 milligrams three times a day).

This medicine may be given as a combination of any of the forms it comes in.

Missed dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is less than 4 hours until your next dose, do not take the missed dose and return to your regular dosing schedule. Do not allow more than 12 hours to go by between doses. If this happens, call your doctor right away. Do not double doses.

Storage

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule or tablet forms of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Store the liquid form of this medicine in the refrigerator. However, keep the medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For gabapentin, the following should be considered:

Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to gabapentin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy Gabapentin has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in pregnant animals have shown that gabapentin may cause bone or kidney problems in offspring when given to the mother in doses larger than the largest human dose. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding

Children This medicine has been tested in children 3 years to 12 years of age. Children may be sensitive to the effects of gabapentin. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment. Certain side effects may be especially likely to occur in children. It is especially important that you discuss with the child's doctor the good that this medicine may do as well as the risks of using it..

Teenagers This medicine has been tested in a small number of patients 12 to 18 years of age. In effective doses, gabapentin has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults Gabapentin is removed from the body more slowly in elderly people than in younger people. Higher blood levels may occur, which may increase the chance of unwanted effects. Your doctor may give you a different gabapentin dose than a younger person would receive.

Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking gabapentin, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Antacids (e.g., Maalox) Lower blood levels of gabapentin may occur, so gabapentin may not work properly; gabapentin should be taken at least 2 hours after any antacid is taken.

• Morphine (e.g., Kadian, MS Contin) Higher blood levels of gabapentin may occur and there is an increased chance of side effects from the medicine. A lower dose of either medicine may be needed.

Other medical problems The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of gabapentin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Kidney disease Higher blood levels of gabapentin may occur, which may increase the chance of unwanted effects; your doctor may need to change your dose