Gabapentin Drug Interactions

Taking gabapentin together with other medications can lead to drug interactions. Some of the drugs that can potentially interact with gabapentin include:

Naproxen

Studies suggest that naproxen (aleve) increases the amount of gabapentin absorbed in the body. Although the increase is relatively minimal to cause sudden adverse effects, caution is advised when using these two drugs together. These patients are also at increased risk of experiencing side effects.

Hydrocodone

Gabapentin tends to decrease the amount hydrocodone in the body as well as the desired pharmacologic effect this medication. The amount of decrease is dependent upon the dose of gabapentin. Hydrocodone potentially increases the gabapentin levels in the blood although its potential effects are not known. If using these drugs in combination, your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage depending on your response to the treatment.

Morphine

Morphine tends to increase the levels of gabapentin in the blood which increases the risk for side effects. Be sure to consult your healthcare provider when taking these drugs together.

Cimetidine

Concurrent use of cimetidine and gabapentin may decrease the renal excretion of the drug, potentially leading to an in increase gabapentin levels in the blood. However, studies suggest that the small decrease in gabapentin clearance is not expected to cause serious adverse reaction.

Antacid (Maalox)

Antacids, particularly those containing magnesium and aluminum, can interfere with the metabolism of the drug possibly leading to a reduction in its desired pharmacologic effects. In order to prevent this drug interaction, patients are advised to delay administration of gabapentin to at least 2 hours after taking the antacid.

Diagnostic Test

Aside from these medications, gabapentin can also cause false positive readings in the patient’s dipstick test for urinary protein. Be sure to inform your healthcare provider that you are taking gabapentin during the urine specimen collection. Usually, patients on gabapentin are recommended to use a more definitive diagnostic test for the determination of the presence protein in the urine.

This drug information does not intend to list all the medications that can potentially interact with gabapentin. It is possible that some other drugs were left out and not discussed in this medication guide. Be sure to consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the drugs that you are taking. Feel free to discuss with your physician the drugs that you normally take including prescription, over-the-counter, and health supplement. Lastly, it is recommended that patients avoid taking any other medications together with gabapentin unless specifically instructed by a prescribing physician.