Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking gabapentin as follows:
- Gabapentin can take some time to fairly adjust to your body, before any therapeutic relief is experienced. Gabapentin only prevents the seizures from happening and controls the neuropathy, by reducing the rapid firing of the nerves. Gabapentin does not fix the actual condition causing the seizures or the neuropathy. Continue taking gabapentin as ordered, even after you experience relief from the symptoms. Do not discontinue taking the medication without your physician’s consultation. Discontinuing abruptly on gabapentin intake or significant reduction of gabapentin dose, after prolonged use, can result in exacerbation of anxiety, relapse and rebound of the panic episodes, precipitation of uncontrolled seizure episodes, exacerbation of nerve pain, muscle spasms, insomnia, worsening of mood, and behavior changes. Discontinuing the medication should be only upon your physician’s recommendation.
- Gabapentin use, especially in individuals with history of mood disorders, can result in worsening of anxiety and depressive symptoms, changes in behavior, trouble sleeping, gross appetite changes, impulsiveness, agitation, irritability, and suicidal thoughts. Closely watching for the therapeutic response and developing side-effects, with timely reporting the findings to the physician, can allow appropriate changes in the dose of gabapentin and plan of care. This can help with better management of your condition and avoid risk for worsening of behavioral and mood disorders.
