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?

[Shamrock, BSN, RN]

I've seen it given for seizures, (intended use), and for behavior

modification. Has helped in both. Have seen it rx'd for hot flashes

and chronic pain. Don't know if it helped in those cases or not.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Our dialysis pts. get it for "restless legs syndrome"... helps them.

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Same as two posts above in my experience.

renerian

[cargal]

Used in hospice for nerve pain, most often described as "burning".

[plumrn, BSN, RN]

I've seen it prescribed for the burning neuropathy-type pain also.

[PlanetCaroline]

And bipolar disorder.

[ShelleyERgirl, LPN]

My mom takes it for help with her chronic back pain but she hates it, says it makes her "spacey".

[MelRN13]

I think that alot of times when its prescribed to psychiatric patients, it is to prevent/lessen the severity of the side effects of psychotropics, since some of them can lower the seizure threshold. But I have also seen it given for neuropathy.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Burning peripheral neuropathy for me. BUT it caused terrible tremors and ++++edema of my legs. I had to get off of it.

[Shamrock, BSN, RN]

For the psych population I'm working with it is definetly given as a

mood stabilizer.

[Disablednurse]

I am on neurontin for chronic intractable back pain. It helps it some, but not a lot by no stretch of the imagination. It also makes me sleepy and tired. I am also taking MS Contin 60mg every 8 hours with it.