Gabapentin Dosage and Administration
Gabapentin is given orally with or without food.
Postherpetic Neuralgia
In adults with postherpetic neuralgia, the starting dose is 300mg three times a day. If necessary the dose may be increased up to 1800mg / day.
Epilepsy
Gabapentin is recommended as an adjunctive therap\ in patients 3 years and above. Its effectiveness below 3 years has not been established.
Patients above 12 years of age
The usual effective starting dose of Gabapentin is 900 to 1800 mg / day in two or three divided doses. The maximum time between the doses should not exceed 12 hours.
Paediatric Patients age 3 to 12 years
The starting dose should range from 10-15 mg kg / day in divided doses until the effective dosage is reached by upward titration over a period of approximately 3 days. The effective dose of Gabapentin in paediatric patients age 3-4 years is 40 mg / kg / day given in divided doses. In patients 5 years or above the effective dose is 25-35 mg / kg / day given in divided doses. In any case the maximum time interval between the doses should not exceed 12 hours.
If Gabapentin is discontinued and/or an alternate anticonvulsant 8medication is added to the therapy, this should be done gradually over a minimum of 1 week.
Elderly and Renal Compromised Patients
Care should be taken when prescribing Gabapentin in elderly and renal compromised patient. Such patients may require dose adjustments depending upon state of creatinine clearance.
