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Neurontin® (new-ron-tin) (gab-a-pen-tin) Consumer Information

What is in this leaflet Your doctor may have prescribed • rash, itching or hives on the skin. Neurontin in addition to other Do not take Neurontin after the This leaflet answers some common that you may be taking. expiry date printed on the pack or questions about Neurontin. This may be necessary if your current if the packaging is torn or shows treatment is no longer working as It does not contain all the available signs of tampering. well. information. If it has expired or is damaged, return Your doctor may have prescribed It does not take the place of talking to it to your pharmacist for disposal. Neurontin for another reason. your doctor or pharmacist. If you are not sure whether you Neurontin may lead to dependence All medicines have risks and should start taking Neurontin, talk on this medicine. benefits. Your doctor has weighed to your doctor or pharmacist. the risks of you taking Neurontin Ask your doctor if you have any against the benefits it is expected to questions about why Neurontin has Before you start to take it been prescribed for you. have for you. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if If you have any concerns about This medicine is available only with you have allergies to: a doctor's prescription. taking this medicine, ask your • any other medicines, especially doctor or pharmacist. barbiturates or any other Use in children Keep this leaflet with the medicine. anticonvulsant medicines There is not enough information to You may need to read it again. • any other substances, such as recommend the use of this medicine foods, preservatives or dyes. in children: Tell your doctor if you have or • under the age of 3 years to control have had any of the following What Neurontin is , or medical conditions: • used for under the age of 18 years to treat • kidney problems . • mixed disorders that What Neurontin does include absence . Neurontin is used to control epilepsy. Tell your doctor if you are Epilepsy is a condition where you Before you take it pregnant or plan to become have repeated seizures (fits). There pregnant. are many different types of seizures, Neurontin may affect your ranging from mild to severe. When you must not take it developing baby if you take it during Neurontin is also used to treat Do not take Neurontin if you have pregnancy. However, it is very neuropathic pain, a type of pain an allergy to: important to control your fits while caused by damage to the nerves. • any medicine containing you are pregnant. If it is necessary This medicine belongs to a group of gabapentin, the active ingredient for you to take Neurontin, your medicines called anticonvulsants. in Neurontin doctor can help you decide whether • any of the ingredients listed at the or not to take it during pregnancy. How Neurontin works end of this leaflet. Tell your doctor if you are breast- This medicine is thought to work by Some of the symptoms of an allergic feeding or plan to breast-feed. controlling brain chemicals which reaction may include: Neurontin passes into breast milk. send signals to nerves to help control • shortness of breath The effect on your breast-fed baby is seizures or neuropathic pain. unknown. • wheezing or difficulty breathing Neurontin also has pain relieving If you do breast-feed, watch your • swelling of the face, lips, tongue effects. baby carefully. or other parts of the body

NEURONTIN® 1 If your baby develops a skin rash, If you do not understand the Stopping Neurontin suddenly may becomes sleepy or has unusual instructions on the pack, ask your cause unwanted side effects or make symptoms, don't breast-feed again doctor or pharmacist for help. your condition worse. Your doctor until you speak to your doctor. will slowly reduce your dose before Your doctor can discuss the risks and How much to take you can stop taking it completely. benefits of breast-feeding with you. Your doctor will tell you how many If you forget to take it If you have not told your doctor or capsules/tablets you need to take pharmacist about any of the above, each day. This may depend on your If it is almost time for your next tell them before you start taking age, your condition and whether or dose (within 4 hours), skip the dose Neurontin. not you are taking any other you missed and take your next dose medicines. when you are meant to. Taking other medicines Your doctor may recommend that Otherwise, take it as soon as you Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you start with a low dose of remember, and then go back to you are taking any other Neurontin and slowly increase the taking Neurontin as you would medicines, including: dose to the lowest amount needed to normally. control your epilepsy/convulsions or • all prescription medicines Do not take a double dose to make neuropathic pain. up for the dose that you missed. • all medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements or natural therapies How to take it This may increase the chance of you you buy without a prescription getting an unwanted side effect. Swallow Neurontin whole with a from a , supermarket, If you are not sure what to do, ask full glass of water. naturopath or health food shop. your doctor or pharmacist. Neurontin tablets can be divided in Some medicines may be affected by If you have trouble remembering half along the breakline, if advised Neurontin or may affect how well it to take Neurontin, ask your by your doctor or pharmacist. works. You may need different pharmacist for help. amounts of your medicines, or you When to take it may need to take different medicines. If you take too much Your doctor or pharmacist will Take Neurontin at about the same (overdose) advise you accordingly. time each day. Immediately telephone your doctor Tell your doctor or pharmacist if Taking Neurontin at the same time or Poisons Information Centre you are taking any of the each day will have the best effect. It (telephone Australia 13 11 26 or following: will also help you remember when to New Zealand 0800 POISON or • , a medicine used to take the capsules/tablets. 0800 764 766) for advice, or go to treat stomach or duodenal ulcers If you are taking Neurontin three Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that • antacids, medicines used to treat times a day, do not allow more than heartburn or reflux 12 hours between doses. you or anyone else may have taken too much Neurontin. • opioids, medicines used to treat It does not matter if you take severe pain e.g. . Neurontin before or after food. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Your doctor and pharmacist have How long to take it more information on medicines to be You may need urgent medical careful with or avoid while taking Continue taking your medicine for attention. Neurontin. as long as your doctor tells you to. Symptoms of an overdose may Neurontin helps control your include you falling unconscious, condition, but does not cure it. feeling drowsy, weak, unsteady when Therefore you must take your walking, having double vision, How to take it medicine every day, even if you feel slurred speech or diarrhoea. well. Follow all directions given to you Do not stop taking Neurontin, or by your doctor or pharmacist lower the dose, without checking carefully. with your doctor. Do not let They may differ from the yourself run out of medicine over information contained in this leaflet. the weekend or holidays.

NEURONTIN® 2 While you are taking it Tell your doctor if, for any reason, people. Make sure you know how you have not taken Neurontin you react to Neurontin before you exactly as prescribed. drive a car, operate machinery, or do Things you must do Otherwise, your doctor may change anything else that could be dangerous If you are about to be started on your treatment unnecessarily. if you are dizzy or light-headed. If any new medicine, remind your this occurs do not drive. If you become pregnant while doctor and pharmacist that you taking Neurontin, tell your doctor Children should not ride a bike, are taking Neurontin. immediately. climb trees or do anything else that Tell any other doctors, dentists, could be dangerous if they are If you need to have any medical and pharmacists who treat you feeling drowsy or sleepy. tests while you are taking that you are taking Neurontin. Neurontin, tell your doctor. Be careful when drinking alcohol If you are going to have surgery or while you are taking Neurontin. It may interfere with the results of emergency treatment, tell the some tests. Combining Neurontin and alcohol surgeon or anaesthetist that you can make you more sleepy, dizzy or If you are going to have any surgery are taking Neurontin. light-headed. Your doctor may or procedure, including dental Tell your doctor immediately if suggest you avoid alcohol while you surgery, tell your surgeon, doctor or you have any thoughts of suicide or are being treated with Neurontin. dentist that you are taking this self-harm, any unusual changes in medicine. mood or behaviour, or show signs of . Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress Some people being treated with anti- Side effects can be checked. epileptics, such as Neurontin, have had thoughts of harming or killing Your doctor will check your progress Tell your doctor or pharmacist as themselves. and may want to take some tests soon as possible if you do not feel from time to time. This helps to well while you are taking Patients and caregivers should be prevent unwanted side effects. Neurontin. alert and monitor for signs and symptoms of suicide, these include: All medicines can have side effects. Things you must not do Sometimes these are serious, but • thoughts or talk of death or most of the time these are not. You suicide Do not take Neurontin to treat any other complaints unless your may need medical attention if you get • thoughts or talk of self-harm or doctor tells you to. some side effects. harm to others Do not give Neurontin to anyone It can be difficult to tell whether side • any recent attempts of self-harm else, even if their symptoms seem effects are the result of taking • new or an increase in aggressive similar to yours or they have the Neurontin; of your condition; or side behaviour, irritability or agitation same condition as you. effects of other medicines you may be taking, for this reason it is • new onset of or worsening of Do not stop taking Neurontin or important to tell your doctor of any depression. lower the dose without checking change in your condition. Mention of suicide or violence must with your doctor. If you are over 65 years of age you be taken seriously. Stopping Neurontin suddenly, if you may have an increased chance of have epilepsy, may cause unwanted If you or someone you know is getting side effects. demonstrating these warning signs side effects or make your condition Ask your doctor or pharmacist to and symptoms of suicide while worse. Your doctor will slowly answer any questions you may taking Neurontin, contact your reduce your dose before you can stop have. doctor or a mental health taking it completely. professional right away. If you get any side effects, do not Things to be careful of stop taking Neurontin without first Tell your doctor if you feel talking to your doctor or Neurontin is not helping your Be careful driving or operating pharmacist. condition. machinery until you know how Neurontin affects you. Your doctor may need to change Tell your doctor if... your medicine. As with other anticonvulsant medicines, Neurontin may cause Tell your doctor or pharmacist if drowsiness, dizziness, light- you notice any of the following and headedness or sleepiness in some they worry you:

NEURONTIN® 3 • dizziness* or light-headedness • loss of consciousness Keep your capsules in a cool dry • feeling tired or drowsy* The side effects in the above lists place where the temperature stays below 30°C. • unfriendliness* marked * have been specifically reported in children taking Keep your tablets in a cool dry • unusually overactive* Neurontin. place where the temperature stays • forgetfulness, loss of below 25°C. concentration or confusion Go to hospital if... Do not store Neurontin or any • difficulty speaking Tell your doctor immediately or go other medicine in the bathroom or • changes in your weight* to Accident and Emergency at near a sink. Do not leave it on a your nearest hospital if you notice window sill or in the car. • constipation, diarrhoea any of the following: Heat and dampness can destroy some • nausea and/or vomiting*, • more frequent or more severe medicines. indigestion seizures (fits) Keep it where children cannot • dry mouth, red swollen gums • chest pain, a very fast heart rate reach it. • muscle pain or cramps, back pain • sudden signs of allergy such as A locked cupboard at least one-and- • swelling of the hands or feet rash, itching or hives, fever, a-half metres above the ground is a • runny or blocked nose swollen lymph glands, swelling good place to store medicines. • fever* of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of Disposal • bronchitis*, lung infection* breath, wheezing or difficulty If your doctor or pharmacist tells • sore throat and discomfort when breathing. you to stop taking Neurontin or the swallowing, coughing. The above list includes very serious expiry date has passed, ask your The above list includes the more side effects. You may need urgent pharmacist what to do with any common side effects of Neurontin. medical attention or hospitalisation. medicine that is left over. They are usually mild and short- These side effects are very rare. lived. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is Tell your doctor as soon as making you feel unwell. Product description possible if... Other side effects not listed above Tell your doctor as soon as possible may also occur in some people. What it looks like if you notice any of the following: Some of these side effects (for Capsules • weakness, unsteadiness when example, changes in thyroid function, 100 mg - White capsule, marked walking including falling, structures of bones, high cholesterol, Neurontin 100 mg, PD reduced co-ordination or slowed levels of sugar in your blood or blood 300 mg - Yellow capsule, marked reactions pressure) can only be found when Neurontin 300 mg, PD • unusual changes in mood* or your doctor does blood tests from behaviour such as restlessness, time to time to check your progress. 400 mg - Orange capsule, marked Neurontin 400 mg, PD nervousness, or excitement Do not be alarmed by the list of • signs of new onset of, or possible side effects. Tablets increased irritability or agitation You may not experience any of them. 600 mg - White, elliptical, film- • signs of depression coated tablet, with bisecting score on both sides and debossed with "NT" • seeing or hearing things that are and "16" on one side. not there, irrational thinking After taking Neurontin 800 mg - White, elliptical, film- • blurred or double vision, coated tablet, with bisecting score on uncontrollable jerky eye both sides and debossed with "NT" movements, difficulty seeing Storage and "26" on one side. • Keep your capsules/tablets in the signs of frequent infections such Each pack contains 100 as fever, severe chills, sore throat pack until it is time to take them. capsules/tablets. or mouth ulcers. If you take the capsules/tablets out of Not all packs are available. • trouble breathing or shallow the pack they may not keep well. breaths (respiratory depression)

NEURONTIN® 4 Ingredients This leaflet was revised December 2020. Active ingredient

• Neurontin 100 mg - 100 mg gabapentin • Neurontin 300 mg - 300 mg gabapentin • Neurontin 400 mg - 400 mg gabapentin • Neurontin 600 mg - 600 mg gabapentin • Neurontin 800 mg - 800 mg gabapentin. Other capsule ingredients: • Lactose monohydrate • talc-purified • starch maize • gelatin • titanium dioxide • Opacode Blue S-1-4118 • iron oxide - yellow (300 mg / 400 mg) • iron oxide - red (400 mg). Other tablet ingredients: • poloxamer • copovidone • starch-maize • magnesium stearate • candelilla wax • Opadry White YS-1-18111. Neurontin does not contain sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.

Supplier Pharmacy Retailing (NZ) Ltd t/a Healthcare Logistics 58 Richard Pearse Drive Airport Oaks Auckland, New Zealand.

Australian Registration Numbers: 100 mg capsules: AUST R 74067 300 mg capsules: AUST R 66008 400 mg capsules: AUST R 66005 600 mg tablets: AUST R 71793 800 mg tablets: AUST R 71791

NEURONTIN® 5