Is gabapentin the same as neurontin?

If you’re like me, you probably have a lot of questions about gabapentin and Neurontin. Are they the same thing? Can I use them interchangeably? And what does a generic version of these drugs even mean? Fear not, my friends, because we’re about to dive into the world of gabapentin and Neurontin.

What is Gabapentin?

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug that was originally designed to prevent seizures in people with epilepsy. It works by reducing brain activity and calming the nerves that cause seizures. Since its creation, it has been prescribed for several other conditions such as nerve pain caused by shingles or diabetes (fun fact: did you know diabetics are more likely to have shingles?).

Some common brand names for gabapentin include:

• Gralise
• Horizant
• Neurotin (wait…that sounds familiar)

The History of Neurontin

Neurotin (ah-ha!) was actually the first brand name given to gabapentin when it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993. However, something interesting happened when Warner-Lambert (the company that produced Neurotin) found out their patent was expiring soon – they went on a marketing spree claiming that Neurotin could be used for anything from migraines to bipolar disorder (shameful but hey, capitalism right?).

The FDA wasn’t too happy about this false advertisement fiasco so they fined Warner-Lambert $430 million dollars (gasp) but despite all this drama people still associated “Neurotin” with being used for many purposes outside of epilepsy treatment.

Fast forward a few years later in 2004 Pfizer acquired Warner-Lambert only then would rebrand Neurotin which had now become a generic to “Neurontin”.

Is Gabapentin the Same as Neurontin?

YES. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Brand name drugs like Neurontin are often more expensive than their generic counterparts, but they are still literally the same medication with just different packaging.

Just think of it this way – Gabapentin is like a superhero and Neurontin is his secret identity. Sure, one might have tights and a cape while the other has glasses and some slicked-back hair but they’re ultimately one in the same (who knew Superman was on gabapentin all along?)

To further support that they really are interchangeable with dose adjustments here’s what some research says:

• A 2004 study found no difference in efficacy between brand name (Neurotin) and two versions of its generics by Sandoz & Ranbaxy.
• Another study done on elderly population concluded that both drugs were effective treatment options for neuropathic pain
• The FDA sorts it out for us too: “[I]f a drug claims to be neurotin or any version of that [­gabapentin], not only does it mean nothing because those words don’t denote anything specific about what’s inside the bottle…that product should be considered exactly equivalent”.

So whether you’re holding onto a script from your doctor’s office labeled ‘Gab-Pant-Inn’ or an empty pill bottle labled ‘Nerotine’, rest assured my friends, you can take them just about interchangeably.

Dosing Differences Between Gabepatin Vs. Neurontin

While we know above that these medications contain the active ingredient gabepatin there could still be variations between how doses in either forms apply/useful depending on specifics but generally plenty studies find them quite comparable.

Formulation	Dosages Available
Gabapentin	Capsule, tablet 100 mg, 300mg, and 400mg solution oral suspension in form of Neurontin -250mg per 5 mL or Cvolve-5000 micrograms/ml
Neurontin	Capsules of up to 800mg Tablets at strengths ranging from: -600 milligrams (MG), -800 MG, and even up to  1200 MG…WHOAH!

Fun-fact: Because gabapentin is the same no matter its brand name shape/ dosages you might have some redundancy if perscribed both medications!

Gabepetin & Its Suprising Power

I know gabapentin and its evil twin Neurontin may not sound like they possess magical healing powers but you can’t judge a book by it’s cover (or by how strange its name sounds).

In fact, gabapentin has motivated people more than any psychoactive medication currently available according to a study. This suggests that it is not only useful for physical symptoms but also mental ones such as anxiety disorders.

Furthermore because the drug had little background on pain treatment before hand compared with other long-standing treatments such as nortriptyline or amitriptyline- there ends up being “room” in yet newer guidelines where i.e lower doses are being recommended over old school carbamazepine.

Given happy accidents regarding prescribing patterns impetus remains modestly high on what this drug could do otherwise given more research.‍

Side Effects of Using Gabepatin Or Neruonten?

Ah side effects, often less fun sounding than exciting stories about drugs' history aren't they? Get ready for a quick little list:

• Drowsiness or fatigue
• Light-headedness
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Dry mouth (or cotton mouth – this is your chance to shine with the help of some refreshing H2O) 🌊
• Headaches are also common but one study suggested that they happened less frequently under lower doses or extended-release gabapentin vs. older treatments i.e carbamazepine or amitriptyline>

Even though these side effects either occur on rare occasion or could worsen depending upon the patient, it’s important to check in with your doctor if you notice any new symptoms.

Gabepatin/Neruotn Summary

In conclusion,Gabapentin and Neurontin may have different brand names, but they are essentially twins separated at birth (Sorry Arnold). Both medications contain the same active ingredient which makes them interchangeable for treatment purposes such as those found below:

Conditions	Indication
Epilepsy	–}}
Adjunctive therapy in adults Monotherapy in patients age 12>	Shingles Pain( Post-Herpetic Neuralgia)
‍
It’s true that there could be variations between dosages available for each drug formulation – whether capsules based varieties or tablets of varying strengths across both variants. But clinical results indicate positively that dosing modifications can potentially iron out making intake more routine than just like pair of mismatched socks (;)).

True story: Marvel Comics once tried to sue Pfizer because Neurontin sounded way too much like mutant characters the “New Mutants” from their series. I'm not kidding,source here.

When taking gabapentin or Neurontin, it’s important to be aware of potential side effects such as drowsiness and dry mouth. As always during medication intake being patient should communicate with their prescribing physician in case any new symptoms arise.

All things considered (medication-wise…we're not trying to start a competition here), Gabepatin/Neurotin may become some real life heros considering its multi-discipline application and exciting results emerging from studies.

So go ahead my friends, pop that gab filled pill into your mouth – whether you’re calling it Gabapentin or Neurontin is up to you! 🙃