Gabapentin, dem sell under de brand name Neurontin among odas, be an anticonvulsant medication dem use to treat neuropathic pain (postherpetic neuralgia) den partial seizures of epilepsy. Gabapentin be a central nervous system depressant. Dem dey use am for de treatment of neuropathic pain wey be caused by diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, den central pain. E be moderately effective: about 30–40% of those wey dem dey give gabapentin for diabetic neuropathy anaa postherpetic neuralgia get a meaningful benefit.
Gabapentin dey act by decreasing activity of de α2δ-1 protein, wey de CACNA2D1 gene code, dem first know as an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. By binding to α2δ-1, gabapentin dey reduce de release of excitatory neurotransmitters (primarily glutamate) den as a result, dey reduce excess excitation of neuronal networks insyd de spinal cord den brain. Sleepiness den dizziness be de most common side effects. Serious side effects dey include respiratory depression den allergic reactions. Na dem label gabapentin for an increased risk of suicide.
Na dem first approve gabapentin for use insyd de United Kingdom insyd 1993. Na e be available as a generic medication insyd de United States since 2004. E be de first of chaw oda drugs wey be similar insyd structure den mechanism, dem call gabapentinoids. Insyd 2023, na e be de ninth most commonly prescribed medication insyd de United States, plus more dan 45 million prescriptions. During de 1990s, na Parke-Davis, a subsidiary of Pfizer, use chaw illegal techniques to encourage physicians insyd de United States to prescribe gabapentin for unapproved uses. Na dem pay out millions of dollars to settle lawsuits wey dey regard dese activities.
