Requip vs. Neurontin (Gabapentin)

• Are Requip and Gabapentin the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Requip?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Gabapentin?
• What Is Requip?
• What Is Gabapentin?
• What Drugs Interact with Requip?
• What Drugs Interact with Gabapentin?
• How Should Requip Be Taken?
• How Should Gabapentin Be Taken?

Requip (ropinirole) and Neurontin (gabapentin) are used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Requip is also used used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control.

Neurontin is used off-label to treat restless leg syndrome. Neurontin is primarily used to treat seizures and to treat nerve pain caused by shingles (herpes zoster).

Requip and Neurontin belong to different drug classes. Requip is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist and Neurontin is an anti-epileptic medication.

Side effects of Requip and Neurontin that are similar include dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, double vision or vision problems.

Side effects of Requip that are different from Neurontin include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, worsened RLS symptoms early in the morning, diarrhea, constipation, dry mouth, sweating, headache, sleep problems (insomnia), agitation, flushing, weakness, chest pain, leg swelling, high or low blood pressure, lightheadedness or fainting, muscle spasm, numbness, spinning sensation, abdominal pain, indigestion, gas, palpitations, fast heart rate, sore throat, or urinary tract infection (UTI).

Side effects of Neurontin that are different from Requip include unsteadiness, memory loss, lack of coordination, difficulty speaking, viral infections, tremors, fever, unusual eye movements, jerky movements, mood or behavior changes, or depression.

Both Requip and Neurontin may interact with alcohol or other drugs that make you sleepy (sleeping pills, narcotics, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures).

Requip may also interact with levodopa, ciprofloxacin, fluvoxamine, metoclopramide, omeprazole, medications used to treat nausea and vomiting, medications used to treat mental illness, or estrogen.

Neurontin may also interact with naproxen.

Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking Requip.

Common side effects of Requip include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach pain,
• loss of appetite,
• worsened RLS symptoms early in the morning,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• dry mouth,
• sweating,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• agitation,
• anxiety,
• flushing,
• weakness,
• chest pain,
• leg swelling,
• high or low blood pressure,
• lightheadedness or fainting,
• muscle spasm,
• numbness,
• spinning sensation,
• abdominal pain,
• indigestion,
• gas,
• palpitations,
• fast heart rate,
• sore throat,
• urinary tract infection, or
• vision problems.

Common side effects of Gabapentin include:

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

Requip (ropinirole) is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control. Requip is also used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS). Requip is available in generic form.

Neurontin (gabapentin) 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.

Requip may interact with levodopa, ciprofloxacin, fluvoxamine, metoclopramide, omeprazole, medication used to treat nausea and vomiting or mental illness, or estrogen. Tell your doctor all medications you use. During pregnancy, Requip should be used only if prescribed. It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Requip may reduce breast milk production. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. Withdrawal symptoms such as fever, muscle stiffness, and confusion may occur if you stop the medication suddenly or if you change doses.

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

Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Neurontin (gabapentin) without first talking with your healthcare provider. Taking Neurontin (gabapentin) 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 (gabapentin) affects you. Neurontin (gabapentin) 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 (gabapentin) 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.

The recommended dose of Requip is 40 to 320 mcg twice daily for adults and 40 to 80 mcg twice daily for children. If you are also using a bronchodilator, use it first before using the beclomethasone inhaler. There may be other drugs that can interact with Requip.

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

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

If you take Neurontin (gabapentin) 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 (gabapentin) capsules with water.

Neurontin (gabapentin) 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 (gabapentin).

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