Gabapentin Dose And Overdose

The fundamental and essential part of any medical course is its dosage. It gives information about how to take it, when to take it, what will be the time between the doses and mainly, it secures your health from the vicious part of overdose. 

A pattern of everyday things plays an integral part in our daily life as it keeps our day well settled and without any disturbances. The same goes for the following anticonvulsant drug called gabapentin.

Why Is Following Gabapentin Dosage Necessary?

Gabapentin is an anti-seizure medicine that helps postherpetic neuralgia, epilepsy and seizures. Following gabapentin dosage can help to use it effectively to get out of pain, dosage guides you to the perfect and suitable use of the medicine. Hence the necessity to follow gabapentin dosage remains unavoidable if the doctor prescribes it.

If you don’t follow the guidelines, Gabapentin can cause side effects and unwanted situations, which take longer to recover and can cost you expensive bills of hospitals or clinics.

What Is The Dosage Pattern For Gabapentin?

Gabapentin is available with a prescription from a certified medical professional. The dosage of gabapentin has bifurcated according to age, and medical conditions, which is decided after the health examination by your doctor. Over the counter Gabapentin can be purchased only with a prescription as the prescription describes the doses and hence avoid illegal and malicious medicines in name of gabapentin.

Forms And Strength Of Gabapentin

Gabapentin Dosage Information According To Its Area Of Working

For Postherpetic Neuralgia :

For Adults (18-24)

Starting Dose: 1st Day, of course, = 300mg divided into 2 times a day, i.e. 150 per consume

                         2nd Day, of course, = 600mg divided into 2 times a day

                         3rd Day, of course, = 900 mg divided into 3 times a day

Maximum Dosage= 1800mg (600mg divided into 3 times a day)

For Epilepsy With Partial Onset Seizures

For Pediatric patients (3 to 11 years)

Starting Dose: 10mg per Day to 15mg per Day in three divided doses

Maintenance Dose: 40mg by 3 times (3 to 4 years)

What Will Be The Dosage For Renal Impaired Patients?

Renal impaired patients have problems with their kidney functioning. A creatinine clearance test is conducted to adjust the dose according to them.

This test helps to provide data about how the kidney is performing. Clearance is often measured in milliliters per minute.

For Male : 97 to 137 ml/min

For Female : 88 to 128 ml/min

How Should You Consume Gabapentin?

Gabapentin is available in capsules and tablets. You can just swallow it with water. Gabapentin does not require any special food considerations. Still, you can consult with your doctor.

Else, gabapentin can be taken with an empty stomach or with food. There are also off-label uses for gabapentin, like back pain, neck pain, anxiety, and many others, that can have an altered dose as per the requirement.

What About The Missed Dose Of Gabapentin?

If you unconsciously forgot to take the dose, take it in pace if it is within 2 hours of the second dose. If it's not, do not take it as it will create an over intake of gabapentin. 

You should not take 2 doses at the same time. The side effects of gabapentin will be intensified.

Incase of overdosage, call emergency services or contact a medical expert.

How Can You Identify The Overdose Of Gabapentin?

Overdosing gabapentin can lead you to disturbing side effects. There are several signs and symptoms of gabapentin overdose that can help identify.

Gabapentin Overdose Symptoms

• Blurred Vision
• Extreme drowsiness dizziness 
• Lack of focus
• Diarrhea
• Pace heartbeat
• Sedation
• Sleepiness
• Fainting
• Loss of consciousness and coordination.

Conclusion

Gabapentin dosage should be followed eminently to avoid getting into abuse or addiction. The dosage of gabapentin is bifurcated as per its use, i.e. off label and on the label. There is no way better than a dosage pattern for effective medicine use; hence just follow it.