Formulary
Gabapentin: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Gabapentin clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Gabapentin: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Gabapentin clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Adjunctive treatment of focal seizures with or without secondary generalisation for gabapentin**
- **Child 2-5 years** (By mouth): 10 mg/kg once daily on day 1, then 10 mg/kg twice daily on day 2, then 10 mg/kg 3 times a day on day 3, then increased to 30-70 mg/kg daily in 3 divided doses, adjusted according to response, some children may not tolerate daily increments; longer intervals (up to weekly) may be more appropriate.
- **Child 6-11 years** (By mouth): 10 mg/kg once daily (max. per dose 300 mg) on day 1, then 10 mg/kg twice daily (max. per dose 300 mg) on day 2, then 10 mg/kg 3 times a day (max. per dose 300 mg) on day 3; usual dose 25-35 mg/kg daily in 3 divided doses, some children may not tolerate daily increments; longer intervals (up to weekly) may be more appropriate, daily dose maximum to be given in 3 divided doses; maximum 70 mg/kg per day.
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): Initially 300 mg once daily on day 1, then 300 mg twice daily on day 2, then 300 mg 3 times a day on day 3, alternatively initially 300 mg 3 times a day on day 1, then increased in steps of 300 mg every 2-3 days in 3 divided doses, adjusted according to response; usual dose 0.9-3.6 g daily in 3 divided doses (max. per dose 1.6 g 3 times a day), some children may not tolerate daily increments; longer intervals (up to weekly) may be more appropriate.
**Monotherapy for focal seizures with or without secondary generalisation for gabapentin**
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): Initially 300 mg once daily on day 1, then 300 mg twice daily on day 2, then 300 mg 3 times a day on day 3, alternatively initially 300 mg 3 times a day on day 1, then increased in steps of 300 mg every 2-3 days in 3 divided doses, adjusted according to response; usual dose 0.9-3.6 g daily in 3 divided doses (max. per dose 1.6 g 3 times a day), some children may not tolerate daily increments; longer intervals (up to weekly) may be more appropriate.
Interactions
**Severe interactions:**
- Clinically significant interactions are not expected since vigabatrin and gabapentin are exclusively eliminated unchanged in the urine and are unlikely to compete for the same metabolic enzymes and...
**Other interactions (6):**
- Antiepileptic medicinal products Pre-marketing data from clinical studies conducted in adults indicate that levetiracetam did not influence the serum concentrations of existing antiepileptic...
- Table 6: Effects of medicinal products on the concentration of lamotrigine Medicinal products that increase the concentration of lamotrigine Medicinal products that decrease the concentration of...
- Based on a retrospective analysis of plasma levels in patients who received lamotrigine both with and without gabapentin, gabapentin does not appear to change the apparent clearance of lamotrigine.
- Co-administration of lamotrigine with renally excreted medicinal products, which are substrates of OCT2 (e.g.
- In clinical studies, neuropathic pain medicinal products (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin and gabapentin) were administered concurrently to most patients without any evidence of interaction.
- Magnesium salts may interfere with the absorption of many drugs including (but not limited to) ACE inhibitors (captopril, enalapril, fosinopril); antibacterials and antifungals (azithromycin,...
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
Inside MedNext for this topic
- 411 MedNext-authored chapters
- 80,000+ MCQ bank
- 15 study modes
- Growing visual cheat sheets
Study modes
- Notes
- MCQ
- Audio
- Video
- Visual
- 3D Anatomy
- Trace
- Flashcards
- Mnemonics
- Image Bank
- Clinical
- Microscopy
- Audio QBank
- Cadaver
- Book Match
Continue reading
Subject HubPharmacology Hub
All pharmacology resources in one place.
Drug SchedulesIndian Drug Schedules
Schedule H, H1, X and G classifications.
FormularyBrowse all drugs
Search 1,850+ drug profiles.
Study Gabapentin in the MedNext app
Challenge yourself with targeted pharmacology MCQs on this drug class. Every explanation links back to the chapter that teaches the concept.
Start drug challengeExplore the full formulary

