Neurontin vs. Horizant

• Are Neurontin and Horizant the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Neurontin? (Side effects)
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Horizant? (Side effects)
• What is Neurontin? (Uses)
• What is Horizant? (Uses)
• What Drugs Interact with Neurontin? (Interactions)
• What Drugs Interact with Horizant? (Interactions)
• How Should Neurontin Be Taken? (Dosage)
• How Should Horizant Be Taken? (Dosage)

Neurontin (gabapentin) and Horizant (gabapentin enacarbil) are both forms of the antiepileptic (anticonvulsant) drug gabapentin and are used to treat nerve pain.

Neurontin and Horizant generally have different primary uses. Neurontin is 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. Neurontin is also used to treat nerve pain caused by shingles (herpes zoster).

Horizant is used to treat moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) in adults.

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 Horizant include:

• sleepiness,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• loss of coordination, or
• blurred vision.

A small number of people who take anticonvulsants such as Horizant may experience depression, suicidal thoughts or attempts, or other mental/mood problems. Tell your doctor immediately if this occurs.

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.

Horizant (gabapentin enacarbil) is an anticonvulsant drug prescribed for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) in adults. Horizant is not recommended for patients who are required to sleep during the daytime and remain awake at night.

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.

Horizant may interact with other medications that contain gabapentin, and other products that cause drowsiness including alcohol, antihistamines, drugs for sleep or anxiety, muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers, and allergy or cough-and-cold products. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Horizant; it is unknown if it would affect a fetus. You should tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. In the body, Horizant becomes a drug called gabapentin that passes into your milk.

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.

Horizant is to be taken once per day with food at about 5 PM. Tablets should be swallowed whole and should not be cut, crushed, or chewed.