Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking tiagabine as follows:
- Tiagabine use can result in episodes of confusion, hallucinations, dizziness, light-headedness, and sleep. Do not take tiagabine with alcohol or opioid pain medications, such as, hydrocodone and codeine, as these products can add to the dizziness and confusion caused by tiagabine, and contribute to falls and accidents. A number of OTC cough medications and antihistamines, muscle relaxant medications, and antianxiety medications, can potentiate the confusion caused by tiagabine and so, must be avoided taking along with tiagabine. If the dizziness becomes bothersome, report it to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered. Stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until you are used to the side-effects caused by tiagabine intake.
- Tiagabine can interact with a number of other medications and can precipitate serious reactions. Alcohol and a number of medications, such as, anti-GERD agents, antibacterial antibiotics, antifungal antibiotics, and anticonvulsants, by influencing the induction or inhibition of liver enzymes, can significantly impact the metabolism of tiagabine, thus influencing the active levels of tiagabine in the blood, side-effects, development of toxicity, and therapeutic benefit derived. If you are being newly started on tiagabine, discuss with your physician regarding all other medications you are currently taking and their safety with tiagabine. Also, if you have been taking tiagabine for long, discuss with your physician regarding your history of tiagabine intake, when you are being started on any new medication.
