Neurontin: "What are you using it for?"

[passing thru]

In the 5-6 years that I have seen the docs prescribing neurontin, it seems I see it prescribed for a wider and wider variety of patients (diagnoses.)

I have looked it up in the PDR.

What have you all actually heard the docs say they are prescribing it for?

What are they hoping it will do?

Which type of patient benefits the most from it?

Or have you seen a benefit?

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

Using meds for "off label" use happens a lot and isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, drug reps are not allowed to "sell" their products for those uses until they're approved. They can't even give the prescribers copies of research articles addressing the off-label use.

Personally, I've most often seen it used for nerve pain with good results for some and not so good results, pretty much what you see with any other drug.

[redshiloh]

We use Neurontin for treatment of neuropathic pain and spasms in the spinal cord injured patients.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I see it given most often for chronic pain that doesn't respond to other medications. I've even requested it a few times for patients who were taking MS Contin in doses that would kill a rhinoceros and STILL not getting good relief, and it helped them enormously. (These were mostly SCI pts. with intractable nerve-related pain.)

I've also seen Neurontin used for pts. with schizophrenia, always in conjunction with other psychoactive meds. I don't think it's particularly effective, just makes them even more "spacey" than they would be otherwise. I think the combination basically serves as a chemical restraint, and it seems that the longer they're on it, the more they need to keep their "symptoms" under control. JMHO.

[longtermcarern]

I use it for diabetic neuropathy, restless leg syndrome. I take 300mg tid. without it I would not be able to sleep or sit still secondary to the feeling of bugs crawling inside my legs