This belongs to the group of medicines known as antiepileptics.

Neurontin is used alongside other drugs to prevent the convulsions (fits) suffered by epileptics by reducing the activity of the central nervous system.

Neurontin is also used in treating certain types of nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia (severe burning or stabbing pain often following the path of a nerve in the face).

Neurontin is available in tablet and capsule form.

It is also sometimes known as: Neurontin. You may notice the use of any of these names on the packaging of your medicine.

Why is this drug prescribed?

Neurontin capsules and tablets contain the active ingredient Neurontin, which is a drug that is mainly used to treat epilepsy. Neurontin is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic drug. Neurontin works by stabilising electrical activity in the brain. The brain and nerves are made up of many nerve cells that communicate with each other through electrical signals. These signals must be carefully regulated for the brain and nerves to function properly. When abnormally rapid and repetitive electrical signals are released in the brain, the brain becomes over-stimulated and normal function is disturbed. This can result in seizures or fits. Neurontin prevents epileptic fits by preventing the excessive electrical activity in the brain. It is thought to do this by mimicking the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. Neurotransmitters are natural body chemicals that are stored in nerve cells. They are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. GABA is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural 'nerve calming' agent. It helps keep the nerve activity in the brain in balance. Neurontin is structurally similar to GABA and so is thought to mimick its action. This helps calm the nerve activity in the brain. Neurontin is used as an add-on treatment for adults whose epilepsy has not been well controlled by other antiepileptic drugs, such as carbamazepine and phenytoin, or for people who cannot take these older drugs. It is used to prevent partial seizures, and partial seizures that spread to secondary generalised seizures. As Neurontin stabilises electrical nerve activity, it can also be used to treat pain that occurs a result of damage to or a disturbance in the function of nerves.

Treatments

* Epilepsy - used as an add-on therapy for adults and children aged six years and over with partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation * Nerve pain in adults, for example due to diabetic neuropathy or following shingles

What side effects can this drug cause?

* Dizziness * Sleepiness * Gut disturbances such as indigestion, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea * Dry mouth * Swelling of the legs and ankles due to excess fluid retention * Weight gain * Shaky movements and unsteady walk * Rash * Loss of memory * Abnormal thinking * Visual disturbances * Pins and needles * Feeling of weakness * Pain in the joints * Small haemorrhage in the skin * Anxiety or nervousness * Decrease in the number of white blood cells in the blood * Unstable moods * Confusion * Depression