Gabapentin is a modern antiepileptic drug

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease in which seizures suddenly develop in the human body. An excessive increase in some discharges in the neurons of the brain leads to the development of an attack. Attacks are usually typical, occurring in similar situations. In some cases, the attack turns into a severe mood disorder, epileptic psychosis, falling into a trance, a person begins to dim, hallucinations, delusions, migraines, or somnambulism develops. By the way, not only people are prone to epileptic seizures. They are seen in other mammals such as cats and dogs.

Indications

Gabapentin is used to prevent epileptic seizures and as an anticonvulsant in patients who have had hysterectomy or spinal surgery. It is also used to treat neuropathic pain that does not arise from physical causes, but rather abnormal responses in the brain, in the treatment of fibromyalgia, and to correct central post-stroke pain syndrome.

How Gabapentin works

The main active ingredient of the drug Gabapentin is gabapentin. Once in the body, it lowers the excessively increased excitability of neurons located in the posterior horns of the spinal cord. The mechanism of action of the substance has not been reliably studied. Scientists suggest that its effect may be due to binding to voltage-gated calcium channels of certain areas of the brain, as a result of which less calcium enters the nerve endings. In this state, neurotransmitters are released, and the functioning of neurons is stabilized. At the same time, gabapentin is not in contact with GABA, does not affect its absorption or biotransformation. It does not bind to blood plasma and is not metabolized in the human body.  

Contraindications and side effects 

Most often, Gabapentin does not cause significant side effects. In rare cases, it contributes to the development of drowsiness, dizziness, peripheral edema, and nausea. The drug is contraindicated in the presence of a hypersensitivity reaction to any of its components, in patients under 3 years of age in the treatment of epilepsy and under 12 years of age in the treatment of neuralgia. The advisability of using the drug during pregnancy and lactation is determined by the doctor.

Take Gabapentin at the dosage and schedule prescribed by your doctor. Inform him about all the reactions of your body to the drug and be healthy!