Neurontin vs. Norco

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

Neurontin (gabapentin) and Norco (hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen) are used to treat pain.

The drugs are different types of medications that generally have different uses. Neurontin is an anti-epileptic medication used to treat seizures. 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).

Norco is an opioid analgesic and antitussive (cough suppressant) combined with a pain reliever (analgesic) used to treat moderate to fairly severe pain.

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 Norco include:

• anxiety,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• lightheadedness,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• constipation,
• headache,
• mood changes,
• blurred vision,
• ringing in your ears, or
• dry mouth.

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.

Norco is a strong prescription medicine is indicated for the relief of moderate to moderately severe pain.

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.

Norco, like all narcotics, may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a car or operating machinery; patients should be cautioned accordingly.

Alcohol and other CNS depressants may produce an additive CNS depression, when taken with this combination product, and should be avoided.

Hydrocodone may be habit-forming. Patients should take the drug only for as long as it is prescribed, in the amounts prescribed, and no more frequently than 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.

Dosage should be adjusted according to the severity of the pain and the response of the patient. However, it should be kept in mind that tolerance to hydrocodone can develop with continued use and that the incidence of untoward effects is dose related.

The usual adult dosage is one or two tablets every four to six hours as needed for pain. The total daily dosage should not exceed 8 tablets.