Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.© 2004-2020 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. 'Royal Free Hospital'.This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.Treatment of restless legs syndrome with gabapentin: A double-blind, cross-over study Always use the other half with the next dose, or as soon as possible.Never break or chew extended-release gabapentin tablets — always swallow them whole.It is vital to take only the recommended dose of gabapentin and not to continue using it for longer than prescribed. Gabapentin belongs to a group of medicines known as anti-epileptic medicines. Serious side effects of gabapentin occur rarely, but can include: If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. It is classified as an anticonvulsant drug. For RLS however, it's best to have the larger part of it in the evening. Gabapentin can be used to treat the symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS). This helps to improve the severity of symptoms. There are a few situations where caution may be indicated. Gabapentin may be prescribed for nerve-related pain, seizures, or certain types of headaches. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to a doctor or nurse caring for you. The medication is available in capsule, tablet, or liquid form.In this article, we describe the uses, dosages, and side effects of gabapentin. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'.Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free. After a 1-week washout they crossed over to the alternative treatment for 6 weeks. While these reviews might be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge and judgement of healthcare practitioners. The way in which gabapentin works in RLS is not fully understood, but it is thought to affect activity in the nerve cell. Incidentally, Pregabalin is absorbed much better than gabapentin. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Sanja Jelic, MD, is board-certified in sleep medicine, critical care medicine, pulmonary disease, and internal medicine. The Neurontin brand can treat one form of Some people take other medications with gabapentin to control epilepsy symptoms.Gabapentin can also help reduce post-herpetic neuralgia, a burning or stabbing nerve pain that is a common complication of Extended-release gabapentin (Horizant) tablets can treat The right dosage of gabapentin depends on several factors, including:The number of daily doses, the hours that should pass between the doses, and the length of time that a person takes gabapentin will vary among individuals.A person should take some forms of gabapentin with food, but for other forms it is unnecessary.Anyone prescribed the Horizant brand of gabapentin for RLS should take it only in the evening or at night.Some brands or dosages require a person to break the tablets in half. Anticonvulsants: These agents, such as gabapentin and gabapentin enacarbil , may help relieve the symptoms of RLS as well as any chronic pain or nerve pain. The following information is NOT intended to endorse any particular medication. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Methods: Patients with RLS (22 idiopathic, 2 secondary to iron deficiency) were randomized and treated for 6 weeks with either gabapentin or placebo. Also known as: Neurontin, Gralise, Gabarone, Fanatrex. Some forms of gabapentin can also treat restless legs syndrome or certain types of nerve pain.Gabapentin appears to work by altering electrical activity in the brain and influencing the activity of chemicals called neurotransmitters, which send messages between nerve cells.Brand names for gabapentin include Horizant, Gralise, and Neurontin.