Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an antiepileptic drug which has been available in Australia since 1994.

What are its applications?

Trials have shown that Gabapentin is effective in controlling epilepsy for some people, particularly those with complex partial and secondarily generalised partial seizures. It is usually added on to tablets that people are already taking rather than used by itself.

Studies have shown that Gabapentin does not interfere with the absorption of other drugs such as Dilantin, Epilim and Tegretol. It can be given in high doses and there is no risk of an accidental overdose. Gabapentin is not broken down by the body as with other epilepsy drugs, therefore it does not make the liver work harder.

Gabapentin does not seem to be as effective in the treatment of absence seizures (a primarily generalised epilepsy) and occasionally may even make absence seizures worse. It cannot be used by everyone, and special care must be taken with some types of epilepsy. It is approved in Australia only as add-on therapy for resistant partial epilepsy.

Benefits to people with epilepsy

For adults and children over 12 with difficult to control partial seizures, with or without secondary generalisation, Gabapentin as add-on therapy can provide a significant decrease in seizure frequency. The results of 2 and 5 year trials demonstrated that approximately 70% of patients experienced at least some improvement.

This drug is free of interactions with other drugs and has the advantage of not requiring such a slow introduction compared to other drugs.

• Gabapentin can be taken with or without food.
• Gabapentin does not require regular blood checks to test the level.
• Gabapentin does not stop the oral contraceptive pill from working.

Possible side effects

Of the 2,000 people studied in a large trial, the most common side effect was sleepiness which occurred in about 20% of people. The next most common 'unpleasant' side effect were dizziness, ataxia (poor co-ordination) and fatigue. However, the trials show that adverse side effects do not usually last very long, and if they do happen, will usually wear off.

The experience in Australia confirms that Gabapentin is a safe, well tolerated anti-epilepsy drug in the majority of patients with partial epilepsy.