What are some side effects How long do I have to of gabapentin? take gabapentin?

Common What Can I Do if I You and your provider will decide on Side Effects Experience This? your treatment plan. Swollen • Let your provider Most people take gabapentin for at Legs and know if you notice least 6 months and often longer. Arms any swelling in your arms or legs • Elevate your legs For more information about drinking above the level of and HIV visit the VA’s website: your heart whenever possible http://www.hiv.va.gov/patient/ Drowsiness This is a common side daily/alcohol-drugs/index.asp or Fatigue effect, and your body will likely adjust over time Dizziness Rise slowly to Veteran's Crisis Line prevent falls 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Text - 838255 Notify your provider if you experience: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ¡¡Skin rash, itching Veterans Health Administration ¡¡Swollen or painful lymph glands in VA PBM Academic Detailing Service the neck, armpit, or groin ¡¡Unusual bleeding or bruising Gabapentin Contact info: ¡¡Nervousness, or thoughts of hurting yourself or others Using Medications to Help Manage Alcohol Use All medicines can have side effects. Not everyone has side Disorder with HIV effects though. They usually get better as your body gets used to the new medicine. Talk with your provider or pharmacist if any of the above side May 2017 PBM Academic Detailing Service effects trouble you. IB 10-945, P96826 www.va.gov How can gabapentin help me What do I need to know before Drinking and HIV cut down or stop drinking? starting gabapentin?

Many people living with HIV drink Gabapentin can reduce your urge or more than people without HIV. desire to drink. Gabapentin can also Drinking can be a problem for help improve symptoms of anxiety several reasons. and difficulty sleeping that may occur when stopping alcohol use. Drinking unsafe amounts of alcohol may weaken your immune system, A successful alcohol treatment and ability to fight illness or infection. program will include a combination of medicine and social support, like: Drinking at risky levels can: ¡¡Alcoholics Anonymous ¡¡Be harmful to your liver, and (AA) meetings increase risk for developing ¡¡Gabapentin is commonly used to cirrhosis or liver cancer ¡¡Counseling ¡ treat nerve pain and seizures. ¡¡Make it more likely that you will ¡Individual or group therapy ¡¡Recent studies have shown take risks, such as have unsafe sex ¡¡Hospital treatment, sometimes it also to be useful to treat ¡¡Make you more likely to abuse alcohol use disorder and alcohol other drugs What percent of withdrawal symptoms. ¡¡ Make it harder to take "pure alcohol" is in ¡¡Taking medicine for alcohol use your medications one standard-size drink of...? disorder is not substituting one on time every day drug for another. 80-Proof Recommended Drinking Limits Regular Malt Table Distilled How should I take gabapentin? Beer Liquor Wine Spirits* Single-day Weekly The recommended Limit Limit 5% 7% 12% 40% dose of gabapentin is Men 4 or less 14 or less 300 to 600 milligrams Age 65 standard- standard- (mg) by mouth three or under size drinks size drinks times daily with or Women 3 or less 7 or less without food. or Age standard- standard- If you take an antacid over 65 size drinks size drinks 12 8–9 5 1.5 containing aluminum fl oz fl oz fl oz fl oz shot and magnesium * Gin, rum, tequila, vodka, whiskey, etc. (example: Maalox), separate it from gabapentin by at least 2 hours.