Patient/caregiver was instructed upon mechanism of action and therapeutic uses of gabapentin as follows:
- Rapid firing of nerve impulses is considered responsible for seizure activity and nerve pain.
- Gabapentin is a medication that affects certain neurotransmitters in the body, which are responsible for development of seizures/convulsions and nerve pain.
- Affecting these chemicals, gabapentin helps with reducing the excitation of the nerves.
- By reducing the excitation of nerves and firing of nerve impulses, gabapentin can help with reducing/prevention of seizure activity. Gabapentin can be used as an anticonvulsant in prevention of grand-mal and partial seizures.
- By affecting certain excitatory neurotransmitters in the body, gabapentin also helps with controlling the anxiety and so, is used for control of symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.
- Gabapentin can be used as an antineuropathy agent, to control the nerve pain in individuals with history of spinal injury and diabetic neuropathy. Also, herpes virus infection and activation of latent chicken pox infection (zoster) can result in debilitating neuropathy. By reducing firing of nerve impulses, gabapentin use can result in control of neuropathy associated with herpes and zoster infections.
- Rapid firing of nerve impulses can also result in restless legs syndrome, with individuals complaining of uncomfortable pins and needles sensation in both the lower extremities. The discomfort can be high at rest and relieved with movement of the legs. By reducing firing of nerve impulses, gabapentin use can result in relief of these symptoms of restless legs syndrome.
