Gabapentin

Gabapentin itself is both a branded and generic medication. Whereas, this drug consists of three other brand-named medications that are Horizant, Gralise, and Neurontin. Gabapentin belongs to the class of medications known as Anticonvulsants and is available online. You can now buy Gabapentin online for easy ordering and fast delivery.

Gabapentin is a prescription-only medication. This medication is used for the treatment of partial seizures (generally caused due to epilepsy), nerve pain, and restless leg syndrome (RLS).

Gabapentin is also referred to as a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) analog. GABA plays a vital role in seizures and transmission of pain signals. This medication is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Comparing the Mechanism of Action and Effectiveness

The must-know element of any medication is its mechanism and efficacy. So, in this section let’s understand the mode of action and its effectiveness.

Mechanism of Action of Gabapentin:

The accurate mechanism of action of Gabapentin is still not clear till now. But the primary mode of action of this drug is thought that it freely passes the blood-brain barrier and acts on neurotransmitters. In the cyclohexyl group structure of neurotransmitters, GABA plays the role of a chemical structure. Even though, the structure of Gabapentin is quite similar to GABA.

Gabapentin structure doesn’t bind the GABA receptors and doesn’t influence the production of GABA. If we talk about the working, then Gabapentin has a strong affinity for binding sites across the brain that react to voltage-gated calcium channels, mainly alpha-2-delta-1.

Excitatory neurotransmitters implicated in epileptogenesis appear to be inhibited by this binding affinity in the presynaptic region. Despite the lack of evidence for direct activation at the dopamine, histamine, benzodiazepine, or serotonin receptors, research has shown that gabapentin increases total-blood levels of serotonin in healthy control volunteers.

Effectiveness of Gabapentin Pills:

Gabapentin is a prescription-only medication. This drug is used for treating and diagnosing seizure disorders and neuropathic pain. Gabapentin is available in two formulations Immediate-Release (IR) and Extended-Release (ER).

Now, if we talk about the efficacy of this medication then the problems like difficulty in sleeping are mainly caused by nerve pain, the effect may be seen in about a week. On the other hand, seizure improvement or reduction is commonly noticeable within 2-3 weeks of starting this medication.

The effect of this medication for restless leg syndrome may take 10-12 days or some weeks. Or in a simplified way, this means that you can feel relief from RLS in several days or weeks. As the precise mechanism of action is still unknown it is considered that Gabapentin may stay in the body for up to 45 hours.

Bear in mind, that the effectiveness of Gabapentin totally depends on some factors such as the age of the patient, functioning of body parts (mainly kidney), response to the drug, etc.

Uses and Doses of Gabapentin:

As we have discussed above Gabapentin is mainly an active component but it is also considered as a branded medication. Gabapentin is an ingredient or we can say it is a group of 3 medications Neurontin, Gralise, and Horizant and every medicine is approved for treating different conditions.

So, let’s take a look at them and acknowledge the usage of these medications.

Gabapentin Uses :

In general terms, Gabapentin is used for treating patients who are suffering from health conditions like partial seizures, nerve pain, and restless leg syndrome.

1. Neurontin: This is a branded medication for the generic medicine Gabapentin. This drug is used to treat postherpetic nerve pain that may be caused by shingles. Neurontin may also be used in combination with other seizure drugs for partial-onset patients who are 3 years and older.

2. Gralise: The active ingredient in this medication is also Gabapentin. This medication is only used for the treatment of pain that occurs after shingles. Keep in mind that Gralise is not suggested to be used for any other medical condition.

3. Horizant: Like Gralise and Neurontin this medication is also a branded medication for the generic drug Gabapentin. This medication is mostly available in the form of ER tablets. Horizant is used for treating restless leg syndrome.

Note: The different brands of Gabapentin are not interchangeable. Each brand is approved by the FDA for the treatment of different conditions. Only use the brand which is prescribed by your healthcare professional.

Doses of Gabapentin Pill:

Gabapentin is available in the form of oral tablets, capsules, and oral solutions. The dosage strengths are mentioned below along with their form.

• Capsule – 100 mg, 300 mg, and 400 mg.
• Oral Tablet – 300 mg (Gralise) 600 mg (Gralise and Neurontin), 800 mg (Neurontin)
• Oral Solution – 250 mg / 5 ml.

The initial dosage of Gabapentin for adults is 300 mg orally a day. Neurontin can work with or without food. However, Gralise and Horizant should be taken with food only.

Working – Functioning of Gabapentin

Gabapentin makes its identity as it works by changing the electrical activity path which mainly occurs at the time of epilepsy in the brain. After that, it influences the activity of chemicals which are known as neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters send messages between the brain and nerve cells.

The primary function of Gabapentin is considered as used to prevent or control seizures. Calming the nerve activity to reduce the intensity or occurrence of seizure is its basic mode of action.

Potential Side Effects and Risks

Common side effects of Gabapentin:

• Dizziness
• Feeling tired
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Dysarthria (difficulty speaking)
• Recurring infections
• Memory loss
• Weight gain
• Being unsteady
• Coordination problems
• Tremors
• Jerky movements
• Double vision
• Blurred vision
• Unusual eye movements

Risks Related to Gabapentin Pill:

• Trouble breathing
• Suicidal thoughts
• Sleepiness
• Coma
• Slowed breathing
• Bluish-coloured skin (lips, fingers, or toes)
• Tinted skin
• Shallow breathing

Alternatives to Gabapentin:

i. Pregabalin: Pregabalin is also known as Lyrica. It is a prescription-only medication. Pregabalin can be considered the most closely related alternative to Gabapentin. It is used for the treatment of epilepsy, pain nerves, and anxiety disorders.

ii. Amitriptyline: Amitriptyline is used for the treatment of neuropathic pain and postherpetic neuralgia which is mainly caused by shingles. The recommended starting dose of this medication is 10-25 mg per day.

iii. Topiramate: Topiramate is also referred to as Topamax sometimes. This drug is used for treating various types of seizures. Topamax may also be used for preventing migraine headaches.

iv. Levetiracetam: Levetiracetam is also known by another name that is Keppra. Like Gabapentin this medication also comes in the class of Anticonvulsant medications. Rather than this, Levetiracetam is also used for the treatment of seizures and epilepsy in adults and children as well.

v. Clonazepam: Clonazepam belongs to the family of Benzodiazepines. This medication is helpful to get relief from panic attacks and control seizures.

Procedure to Buy Gabapentin Online:

Firstly, you will have to look for sites(online pharmacies) that are well-established and genuine. Secondly, search for the proof of genuineness of the said site, by looking for reviews and delivery orders.