Question

what is the use, presentation , dosage, contraindication, secondary effects, nursing implications and client teaching of gabapentin ?

Answer 1

Use

• to treat epilepsy.

• It's also taken for nerve pain. Nerve pain can be caused by different illnesses, including diabetes and shingles, or it can happen after an injury.

• Occasionally, gabapentin is used to treat migraine headaches.

Presentation

•Each Neurontin capsule contains 100 mg, 300 mg, or 400 mg of gabapentin and the following inactive ingredients: lactose

cornstarch

talc, gelatin, titanium dioxide,

yellow iron oxide (300 mg and 400 mg only),

red iron oxide (400 mg only).

Dosage
Initial dose: 300 mg orally on day one, 300 mg orally 2 times day on day two, then 300 mg orally 3 times a day on day three

Maintenance dose: 300 to 600 mg orally 3 times a day
Maximum dose: 3600 mg orally daily (in 3 divided doses)

-Maximum time between doses in the 3 times a day schedule should not exceed 12 hours

Contraindication
• suicidal thoughts.
• depression.
• myasthenia gravis.
• skeletal muscle disorder.
• decreased lung function.
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• chronic kidney disease

Secondary Effects

• Drowsiness

• dizziness

• loss of coordination

• tiredness

• blurred/double vision

• unusual eye movements

• shaking (tremor) may occur

Nurshing Implications

Monitor for therapeutic effectiveness; may not occur until several weeks following initiation of therapy.

Assess frequency of seizures: In rare cases, the drug has increased the frequency of partial seizures. Assess safety: Vision, concentration, and coordination may be impaired by gabapentin.

Client Teaching

Neurontin can be taken with or without food.

If you break a Neurontin tablet and take only half of it, take the other half at your next dose.

Any tablet that has been broken should be used as soon as possible or within a few days.

Swallow the capsule or tablet whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.