What is Horizant?
Horizant is a prescription medication that is used to treat people suffering from restless leg syndrome and the pain caused by damaged nerves. It alters the chemicals and nerves in the body, which are the source of certain kinds of pain.Horizant is prescribed to the adult population to manage neuropathy (postherpetic neuralgia) caused by the herpes virus or shingles (herpes zoster). Horizant can also be used to aid in the treatment of the condition known as restless leg syndrome (RLS). Make sure you use only the name and type of gabapentin the physician has recommended. Check your medicine every time you receive a refill to ensure that you have received the correct prescription.
Warnings
There are people who think about suicide when taking this medication. Be aware of fluctuations in moods or symptoms. Inform your doctor if you notice any changes or worsening symptoms. Stop taking Horizant abruptly, even if you feel well.
Before taking this medication
You shouldn't take Horizant if you have an allergy to gabapentin.
To ensure that Horizant is safe for you, ask your doctor if you previously had:
- Lung diseases, like chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD);
- Renal disease (or if you're taking dialysis);
- Diabetes;
- Depression, mood disorders, suicidal ideas or behaviors;
- A seizure (unless you are taking gabapentin for seizures);
- Liver disease;
- Heart disease heart disease
- (for patients suffering from RLS) if you are either a night-shift worker or in a night shift.
Certain people are contemplating suicide while taking this medication. Your doctor should be able to check your progress regularly. Your family members and other caregivers should be on the lookout for changes in your mood or symptoms. It is unclear if this medicine could affect a newborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are expecting or planning to be pregnant. Gabapentin is a component of enacarbil that can be absorbed into breast milk. However, the impacts on nursing babies are not yet known. Consult your physician regarding any risks.
How to take Horizant?
Follow the exact dosage of Horizant as directed by your physician. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Don't take this medication in greater or lesser doses or for longer than prescribed. Don't break, cut, crush, chew, or break the extended-release tablet of Horizant. Swallow the tablet entirely.
When your physician alters the strength, brand, or type of gabapentin, the dosage requirements may be altered. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the new form of gabapentin that you get from the pharmacy. Do not stop taking Horizant immediately, even if you're feeling good. Follow the directions of your doctor on increasing your dosage.
This medicine may cause unnatural results in certain tests. Inform any physician who treats you that you're taking gabapentin enacarbil. Keep the Horizant extended-release tablets at room temperature, away from moisture and light.
Details on dosage
Usual Adult Dose of Horizant for Postherpetic Neuralgia:
The dosage recommended is 600 mg, taken orally two times daily. Therapy should begin at 600 mg taken orally in the early morning for three days, and increase to 600 mg twice per day (1200 mg/day) on day 4.
Gabapentin extended-release tablets that are sold under the trade name Horizant as well as gabapentin cannot be interchangeable.
Use of: postherpetic neuralgia
Usual Adult Dose of Horizant for Restless Legs Syndrome:
600 mg once a day along with food around 5 p.m. 1200 mg once a day provided no extra benefit over the dose of 600 mg but led to the development of more adverse reactions.
Use: To treat moderate-to-severe, primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) in adults.
Do I be concerned if I miss a dose?
Make sure to take the missed dose when you remember. Take the medication in conjunction with food. Do not miss your missed dosage if it's nearing the time for the next dose scheduled. Don't take any extra medication to make up for the missed dose.
What will happen if I take excessively?
For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact the Poison Help Line toll-free at 1-800-222-1222.
What should be avoided?
Avoid driving and other hazardous activities until you are aware of how the effects of gabapentin enacarbil affect you. Your reaction could be affected. Consuming alcohol while taking this medication could cause adverse consequences.
Side effects of Horizant
See a doctor immediately. If you exhibit symptoms that you are experiencing an allergic reaction, Horizant symptoms include difficulty breathing, hives, and swelling of your lips, face, and tongue.
Get medical attention in the event of a serious drug reaction that affects the body in a variety of ways. Symptoms may include the following: a skin rash and fever; swelling of the glands; muscle aches; extreme weakness; unusual bruising and stomach pains in the upper part of your stomach; and yellowing of the eyes or skin. The reaction could occur a few weeks after starting to use Horizant.
If you notice any new or more severe symptoms, for example, mood or behavior changes, panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, and when you are feeling uncontrollably angry, irritable, and aggressive, anxious, or hyperactive (mentally as well as physically) depressed, or are thinking about taking your own life or harming yourself,
Contact your doctor immediately in the event that you are suffering from:
- Breathing that is shallow or weak;
- Blue-colored lips, skin, fingers, and toes;
- Insanity, extreme drowsiness, or weakness
- Problems with balance or muscular movements;
- Abnormal or involuntary eye movements that are unusual or involuntary
- Increased seizures.
Gabapentin could lead to breathing issues that can be life-threatening. A person caring for you should seek urgent medical attention if you experience prolonged breathing, pauses in your breath, blue-colored lips, or if you find it difficult to get up. Trouble breathing is more prevalent in older people or those suffering from COPD.
Some adverse reactions are more likely to occur in children who are taking gabapentin. Contact your doctor when your child who is taking this medication has one of these adverse consequences:
- Changes in behavior;
- Memory issues;
- Difficulty focusing; or
- Becoming hostile, restless, or aggressive.
Common Horizant side effects can include:
- Headache;
- Dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness;
- Issues with balance, eye movements, or balance; or
- (in children) fever, nausea, vomiting
This isn't an exhaustive list of possible side effects, and other side effects could be experienced. Contact your doctor for advice regarding medical effects. You can report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Interaction with other drugs
The combination of Horizant with other medicines that cause you to sleep can make you more sleepy. Talk to your doctor prior to taking a narcotic, sleeping pill, medicine, muscle relaxer, or medication to treat depression, anxiety, or seizures.
Other medications may interfere with gabapentin and enacarbil, such as prescription and over-the-counter medications such as vitamins and herbal products. Discuss with your physician your current medications as well as any medications you are about to start or stop taking.
