Gabapentin Uses for Postherpetic Neuralgia
About one million people develop
shingles each year, and a number of them experience a complication called
postherpetic neuralgia. This is pain that is present in the affected area for months, or even years, after the
shingles rash has healed. The most bothersome of
postherpetic neuralgia symptoms is pain. The pain can result in an inability to perform daily tasks of living and may be described as:
- Agonizing
- Excruciating
- Burning
- Sharp, electric-like jabs
- Throbbing
- Aching.
How Does Gabapentin Work?
It is not known exactly how gabapentin works for nerve pain, nor is it known exactly how the drug works to prevent partial
seizures in people with
epilepsy. It is known that gabapentin affects certain
calcium channels in the brain, and this may be how it works for
seizures and nerve pain.
Is Gabapentin Used for Children?
Gabapentin is approved to treat partial seizures in children as young as three years old. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children.
Is Gabapentin Used for Off-Label Reasons?
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend gabapentin for something other than the conditions discussed in this article. At this time,
off-label gabapentin uses include the treatment of:
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