Neurontin vs. Gralise

• Are Neurontin and Gralise the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Neurontin?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Gralise?
• What is Neurontin?
• What is Gralise?
• What Drugs Interact with Neurontin?
• What Drugs Interact with Gralise?
• How Should Neurontin Be Taken?
• How Should Gralise Be Taken?

Neurontin and Gralise are both forms of the medication antiepileptic drug (AED) gabapentin and are used to treat postherpetic neuralgia, nerve pain caused by shingles (herpes zoster).

Neurontin is also used alone or in combination with other medications to treat seizures caused by epilepsy in adults and children who are at least 12 years old.

Gralise is also used to treat pain and burning from peripheral neuropathy.

Gralise is not interchangeable with other gabapentin products because of differing pharmacokinetic profiles that affect the frequency of administration.

Common side effects of Neurontin include:

• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• unsteadiness,
• memory loss,
• lack of coordination,
• difficulty speaking,
• viral infections,
• tremors,
• double vision,
• fever,
• unusual eye movements, and
• jerky movements.

Common side effects of Gralise include:

• dizziness,
• spinning sensation (vertigo),
• sleepiness,
• drowsiness,
• weakness,
• tired feeling,
• headache,
• swelling of the extremities,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• nausea,
• indigestion,
• blurred vision,
• breast swelling,
• dry mouth,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• urinary tract infection,
• weight gain,
• pain in the extremities,
• back pain, or
• loss of balance or coordination.

Neurontin is a prescription medicine used to treat:

• Pain from damaged nerves (postherpetic pain) that follows healing of shingles (a painful rash that comes after a herpes zoster infection) in adults.
• Partial seizures when taken together with other medicines in adults and children 3 years of age and older with seizures.

Gralise (gabapentin) is a pain reliever (analgesic) used to treat pain and burning from peripheral neuropathy, and postherpetic neuralgia, a complication of shingles.

Do Not take Neurontin if you are allergic to gabapentin or any of the other ingredients in Neurontin. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Neurontin.

Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Neurontin without first talking with your healthcare provider. Taking Neurontin with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Neurontin affects you. Neurontin can slow your thinking and motor skills.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Taking Neurontin with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Gralise may interact with phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid, phenobarbital, naproxen, hydrocodone, morphine, cimetidine, oral contraceptives, antacids, or probenecid. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Gralise should be used only if prescribed.

Take Neurontin exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Neurontin to take.

Do not change your dose of Neurontin without talking to your healthcare provider.

If you take Neurontin tablets and break a tablet in half, the unused half of the tablet should be taken at your next scheduled dose. Half tablets not used within 28 days of breaking should be thrown away. Take Neurontin capsules with water.

Neurontin tablets can be taken with or without food. If you take an antacid containing aluminum and magnesium, such as Maalox®, Mylanta®, Gelusil®, Gaviscon®, or Di-Gel®, you should wait at least 2 hours before taking your next dose of Neurontin.

If you take too much Neurontin, call your healthcare provider or your local Poison Control Center right away at 1-800-222-1222.

The dose of Gralise is titrated to 1800 mg taken orally once daily with the evening meal.