People who take one of Britain's most commonly prescribed painkillers have been reminded in an NHS alert about some of the serious side effects that a doctor should know about as soon as possible. Gabapentin is a painkiller that is offered through prescription only and specifically helps with issues around nerve pain, which can be caused by conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, shingles, and restless legs syndrome.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a very common issue in the UK. It's estimated that approximately 10% of adults are affected, but for around 2%, it leads to bothersome symptoms almost every night. This means that around 2.2 million people in the UK will experience this condition at some point in their lives.
Medicines that treat restless leg syndrome (RLS) include alpha-2-delta ligands, such as pregabalin and gabapentin. The exact medicine and dosage will depend on the severity of the symptoms and other health issues, and treatment may need to last a lifetime.
Gabapentin ranks as one of the most frequently prescribed tablets in Britain - it can also be taken in capsule or liquid form. Gabapentincan be taken by most adults and children aged six and over. Most people who take gabapentin do not get any side effects. However, there are rare cases of people experiencing specific issues as a result of the medication.
The NHS website claims: "Like all medicines, gabapentin can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. These common side effects of gabapentin may happen in more than one in 100 people. They're usually mild and go away by themselves."
Common side effects include:
There are some more severe side effects, including self-harming thoughts, "swollen glands that do not go away" and "long-lasting stomach pain", which could be a sign of an inflamed pancreas. However, these happen to "very few people", according to the NHS.
If you use gabapentin for a prolonged period, there's a possibility of developing an addiction, but this is also uncommon. Regular check-ups are important when taking this medication.
In a medical safety 'do not mix' alert issued on the NHS website, the health service says: "Taking herbal remedies and supplements that can make you feel dizzy or drowsy while you're taking gabapentin could make these side effects worse. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements."
Who can and cannot use gabapentin?
The standard dosage of gabapentin depends on the condition which led to the prescription being made. Typically, the usual dose for adults and older children (12 and up) is between 900mg to 3,600mg a day, split over three doses per day.
For younger children (under 12), a doctor will determine a safe dosage based on their body weight. There are several different reasons why a GP might consider prescribing patients an alternative treatment to gabapentin, such as:
