Cramps are an unpleasant state of the body. They can be eliminated by taking special medications. A good medical tool is Neurontin. The country of origin of this medicine is Germany, so many patients have high hopes for it.
But far from always this medication is suitable for use. In the article, we consider the instructions for the use of Neurontin. We also call its analogues, which can be used if the described drug is not suitable.
Instruction for use
"Neurontin" is a medication prescribed by doctors against leg cramps. In its structure, this tool is similar to transmitters between executive cells and neurons of aminobutyric acid. Under the action of the drug, the active component contacts the subunits of calcium channels. Such an effect provokes a decrease in the flow of calcium ions, and also helps to reduce the possibility of forming a pain sensation of a neuropathic nature.
According to the instructions for use of Neurontin, the bioavailability of this medication decreases with the introduction of large doses. So, taking 900 milligrams per day, allows the patient to receive sixty percent of the maximum concentration of this drug in the blood. When consumed 1,200 milligrams per day, the concentration is reduced to forty-seven percent. The highest level of the active component in plasma is fixed three hours after administration. The withdrawal period is, on average, about six hours. In the human body, this tool is practically not subject to any absorption, excreted from the bloodstream in a natural way through the kidneys.
Indications
"Neurontin" is prescribed in such cases:
- In epilepsy with partial seizures with and without secondary generalization in adult patients and children over the age of twelve.
- In the presence of partial seizures with secondary generalization in adults as an additional drug.
- In the presence of a resistant form of epilepsy in children older than three.
- Against the background of neuropathy in patients over eighteen years old.
Are Neurontin and alcohol compatible? Categorically, such interaction should be excluded. Also, during the course of treatment, the drug in question cannot be driven by a car or other mechanisms.
Dosage
The drug is prescribed according to the diagnosed disease:
- With neuropathic pain, 3 doses of 900 milligrams per day are prescribed. On demand, this volume is increased to 3600 milligrams.
- In partial seizures, the initial dosage for adolescents from twelve years of age and adults begins with 300 milligrams three times a day. Gradually, the dose is increased to 900 milligrams three times a day. The breaks between injections of this drug should not exceed twelve hours.
- In case of partial seizures in children, a serving of medicine for babies from three to twelve years old is calculated according to the weight of the patient. The drug is administered in a volume of 15 milligrams per kilogram of weight.
Such a treatment regimen is also possible:
The first day - 1 time 300 mg.
The second day - 2 times 300 mg with a break between doses of 12 hours.
The third day - 3 times 300 mg each. A break between receptions of at least hours.
The following days - the dosage remains unchanged or gradually increases (this depends on the patient's condition). The maximum dose is 3.6 g per day.
As you can see, the dosage "Neurontin" is most often used - 300 mg.
With renal failure
Additionally, adjust the dosage in the presence of renal failure. For elderly patients, the half-life is changing. Children and adolescents do not have an extended fixation period for maximum blood concentrations. This medication is prescribed only by the attending physician. It is impossible to buy it in the public domain at the pharmacy. This is done only by prescription. The dosage is not independently prescribed and is not increased. Any manipulations with the amount of input can extremely negatively affect the general condition of the patient.
Release form
Neurontin is available in tablet form and capsule. The tablets are elliptical, covered with a white shell. Each has an inscription in black if the tablet contains 600 mg of the main substance, and orange if the main component is 800 mg.
Capsules are different. Those in which 100 mg of the main component are white in color. Capsules "Neurontin" 300 - light yellow, and containing 400 mg of active substance - gray-orange. The name of the medicine is written on them in blue or gray, the amount of the main substance, "PD" tablets are packaged in blisters of 10 pieces. Each pack can contain 2 blisters, 5 or 10.
Composition of Neurontin
The preparation in question contains the active ingredient gabapentin. It can be in one pill 600 or 800 mg.
In addition, the composition includes:
- Talc.
- Corn starch.
- Magnesium stearate.
- Copovidone.
- Polishing wax.
- Hypolase.
- Poloxamer 407.
- Opadry White.
Each capsule also contains gabapentin, but in quantities of 100 mg, 300 mg or 400 mg. Among the excipients are present: talc, corn starch, hypolase.
Who should not take "Neurontin"
There are few contraindications for this drug:
- Children under 3 years old.
- Intolerance to any substance that is part of the drug.
- Renal failure.
Adverse reactions
Neurontin can cause many negative body responses to its intake. Among them:
- Problems with the digestive tract (flatulence, diarrhea or constipation, vomiting, nausea, changes in appetite, abdominal pain).
- Deterioration of general condition (lethargy, fatigue, weight gain, weakness, all flu symptoms, swelling, decreased immunity).
- Violation of the nervous system (insomnia, unstable mood, depression, drowsiness, impaired memory, thinking, speech, gait).
- Dyspnea.
- Skin rashes.
- Heart rhythm disturbance.
- Pressure increase.
- Leukopenia
- Bruising.
Price
The cost of this drug varies, depending on the format of release. So, dragees with a dosage of 400 milligrams sell eight hundred and seventy rubles. And a dosage of 600 milligrams is sold for two hundred and fifty rubles. The cost of capsules in a dosage of 300 milligrams for fifty pieces will be 900 rubles. If this medicine cannot be used for any reason, there are many other drugs in the pharmacy network that have the same therapeutic effect. Consider the analogs of Neurontin.
Analogs
It is worth noting that the cost of this medicine is quite high. Not every patient can buy this medicine for such a price. Therefore, if replacement is necessary, drugs with a similar principle of action can be selected.
Analogues of Neurontin are produced by domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies. Some tools have not only a similar principle of action, but also a composition. Others may have a different active substance, but are designed to perform the same function as the original tool.
Each drug has an impressive list of side effects.
Cheap Russian substitutes
Among the analogues of "Neurontin" allocate drugs that are manufactured in our country. It is worth saying that these drugs are not inferior in effectiveness to a German remedy. These include the following drugs: "Gabapentin", "Konvalis", "Benzonal", "Lamictal", "Topamax", "Pagrufecat" and "Phenobarbital".
Among these medicines, there are drugs that also have gabapentin in their composition. It is contained in Lepsitin and Gabapentin. Other drugs include different ingredients in their list of components. For example, “Benzonal” has benzobarbital, “Lamiktal” has lamotrigine, “Phenobarbital” has phenobarbital, and “Topamak” has topiramat.
The cheapest counterparts of Neurontin in tablets are Pagryufekat, which costs ninety rubles, and Benzonal, which costs two hundred rubles. At the same price level is Gabapentin and Konvalis. The price of these drugs is around five hundred rubles. Lamiktal (its price is one thousand rubles) and Topamax (worth two thousand rubles) are expensive means.
It is necessary to take into account the existing contraindications before acquiring analogues of Neurontin. Drugs that are allowed for administration to children from two years of age are analogues in the form of Benzonal, Phenobarbital, Lamiktal and Topamax. From the age of three, the use of "Gabapentin" and "Pagryufekat" is possible. It is forbidden until adolescence "Convalis".
During pregnancy, it is allowed to use with caution funds in the form of “Topamax”, “Lamiktal” and “Konvalis”. It is forbidden to conduct treatment with analogues of "Gabapentin" and "Benzonal", as well as "Pagryufekat" during the first trimester.
Cheap foreign analogues
The production of substitutes for the drug "Neurontin" is carried out by foreign pharmaceutical companies. Analogs of the original product can be purchased from the following manufacturing countries:
- Germany supplies the Gabagamma with Finlepsin and Lyric.
- Iceland produces “Hapenek” with “Convulsan”.
- Croatia produces Katena with Lepsitin and Algerika.
- Belgium produces Keppra.
- Hungary produces Tebantin along with Egipentin and Lameolep.
- Ukraine produces "Levitsit".
- Macedonia produces the Seisar.
- India produces Valparin with Eplirontin.
- USA produces Gabitril.
- Portugal produces an analogue of "Egyptin".
Some foreign analogues of Neurontin include the active substance gabapentin in their composition. Such drugs include Gapentek, Gabagamma, Katena, Lepsitin, Tebantin, Eplirintin and Egipentin. Other analogs in the composition include the following active components:
- The substance lamotrigine is part of "Convulsan", "Lameolep", "Landscape".
- The pregabalin component is present in Lyric and Algeric.
- The substance tiagabin is contained in Gibitril.
- The component of levetiracetam is in Keppra and Levicitam.
- The substance carbamazepine is found in Finlepsin.
- Valproic acid is found in Valparin.
Anticonvulsant and antiepileptic analogues
Gabagamma, Gapentek, Katena, Tebantin, Valparin, Gabitril, Seizar and Lyric possess anticonvulsant qualities. Epileptic seizures eliminate the following analogues of Neurontin: Eplirontin, Egipentin, Lepsitina, Lameolep, Levitsit, Finlepsin and Algerika. At the same time used for seizures and the presence of epilepsy "Keppru" and "Gibitril."
Almost all of these substitutes are available in the form of capsules and tablets. In the form of capsules in a dosage of 400 milligrams, Gabagamm, Gapentek, Katenu, Tebantin, Algerika, Lyric and Eplirintin are sold. The latter drug is also available in tablet format. In addition, in tablets you can buy Egipentin, Convulsan, Lameolep, Gabitril, Seisar, Levitsit and Filepsin. You can also buy Keppra in pills. In addition, it is implemented in the form of syrup and solutions for infusion. In liquid consistency, the analogue “Valparin” is produced.
Pregnancy analogues
It is strictly forbidden to recommend Algerica and Gabagamma for therapy during pregnancy. During the period of bearing a child, Katen, Lepsitin, Gapentek, Eplirintin, Konvulsan, Seizar, Levitsit, Keppru and Finlepsin, as well as Lyric can be used for treatment.
It is forbidden to use "Tebantin" during lactation, and "Valparin" in the first trimester of pregnancy. With great care, under the supervision of a doctor, Egipentin, Gabitril and Lameolep are used at this time.
Let’s figure out which is better, “Gabapentin” or “Neurontin”.
Comparison with Gabapentin
Despite the similar pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties, there are differences between Neurontin and Gabapentin. So, the first drug has more predictable pharmacokinetics, in action there is a greater resemblance to receptors, as well as higher activity.
Several studies have found that Neurontin has fewer side effects. In addition, this tool may be more effective in eliminating neuropathic pain than the drug "Gabapentin". Some studies have found that the dosage ratio between Gabapentin and Neurontin is approximately six to one as part of the transition from one drug to another. In addition, the rapid transition from Gabapentin to Neurontin is easily tolerated by patients.
Consider the reviews of the "Neurontin" of patients and doctors.
Opinions of patients and doctors
Reviews about the "Neurontin" are mixed. This drug is often used in medical practice. Patients and doctors consider these drugs effective. Most often they are used against a background of epilepsy. "Gabapentin" and "Neurontin" well eliminate neuropathic pains. According to reviews, the latter drug works a little better.
Both patients and doctors are dissatisfied with cheap analogues, because they are less effective and cause a lot of side effects. Doctors advise not to save on health and purchase a quality drug.
Also, patients are unhappy with the high cost of Neurontin and its foreign counterparts.
Among the negative reviews about Neuronin, one can find statements that this drug also has a lot of adverse reactions, as well as a too long adaptation period after the cessation of treatment.