Neurontin vs. Zarontin
- Are Neurontin and Zarontin the Same Thing?
- What Are Possible Side Effects of Neurontin? (Side effects)
- What Are Possible Side Effects of Zarontin? (Side effects)
- What is Neurontin? (Uses)
- What is Zarontin? (Uses)
- What Drugs Interact with Neurontin? (Interactions)
- What Drugs Interact with Zarontin? (Interactions)
- How Should Neurontin Be Taken? (Dosage)
- How Should Zarontin Be Taken? (Dosage)
Are Neurontin and Zarontin the Same Thing?
Zarontin (ethosuximide) and Neurontin (gabapentin) are anti-epileptic medications, also anticonvulsants, used alone or in combination with other medications to treat absence seizures (also called "petit mal" seizures) in adults and children. A difference is Neurontin is also used to treat nerve pain caused by shingles (herpes zoster).
What Are Possible Side Effects of Neurontin?
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.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Zarontin?
Common side effects of Zarontin include:
- drowsiness,
- dizziness,
- tiredness,
- headache,
- stomach upset,
- stomach cramps,
- loss of appetite,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- weight loss,
- diarrhea,
- swelling in your tongue or gums,
- unusual vaginal bleeding, or
- loss of balance or coordination.
What is Neurontin?
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.
What is Zarontin?
Zarontin is a prescription medicine used to treat absence (petit mal) seizures.
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See ImagesWhat Drugs Interact With Neurontin?
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.
What Drugs Interact With Zarontin?
Drug interactions for Zarontin and Neurontin are different. Zarontin may interact with other seizure medications (especially phenobarbital, phenytoin, or valproic acid), cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for depression or anxiety. Neurontin may interact with hydrocodone, morphine, and naproxen.
How Should Neurontin Be Taken?
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.
How Should Zarontin Be Taken?
Take Zarontin exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Zarontin to take.
Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose of Zarontin without talking to your healthcare provider.
If you take too much Zarontin, call your healthcare provider or your local Poison Control Center right away.
Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Zarontin without first talking to your healthcare provider. Zarontin taken with alcohol or medicines 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 Zarontin affects you. Zarontin can slow your thinking and motor skills.