Neurontin (Gabapentin)for Chronic Back Pain
For chronic back pain, Neurontin (Gabapentin) will work for most people.
Neurontin is not excreted through the liver like most things, by excreted through the kidneys. It has been used for treatment of partial seizures in patients from the ages 3-12.
Neurontin was originally approved for sale in the mid 1990′s as a treatment for epileptic seizures. The FDA has approved this to treat epilepsy when it is used with another drug for pain related shingles. Neurontin is usually taken in 3 equal doses each day.
Gabapentin is indicated for the management of postherpetic neuralgia in adults. This medicine does not interact with other seizure medicines, so it can be used as an add on. It has not been approved to treat severe RLS (restless leg syndrome).
Neurontin is expensive for the treatment of chronic pain. This is one of the best selling drugs. The average cost is approximately $400 a month for 3200mg a day. The effects are very good even though it is an expensive drug to treat pain.
Neurontin is found in breast milk. It is the first oral medication approved by the FDA for this indication. It was prescribed for the medical condition epilepsy, but the medicine has been used for a bunch of off label uses. It has few if any side effects, which is one of its big selling points.
One thing is that neurontin is not metabolized by the body, that is it does not produce any active or inactive metabolites. It is given orally and you can take it with or without food. Neurontin is not a good medicine for pain management, but it is good for nerve damage that can happen with chronic back pain.
Pfizer manufactures this popular drug. Since 2003, in the United States, Neurontin has become one of the 50 most prescribed medicines.
Neurontin is usually tried first because it is often better tolerated than other drugs. It has realatively mild side effects and passes through the body unmetabolized.
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