• neurontin

    Progesterone for Hot Flashes

    Following the publication of the Women's Health Initiative report in 2002, there was a dramatic drop in the use of hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) due to concerns about increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer, and stroke.  Since that time, various non-hormonal alternatives have been utilized for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, including gabapentin and various serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

    Gabapentin (Neurontin) and Pregnancy

    Despite the fact that gabapentin (Neurontin) is now used in a wide variety of clinical settings -- for epilepsy, pain management, anxiety, sleep disturbance – there is relatively little information regarding its reproductive safety.  A prospective study from researchers at the Motherisk program reports on the outcomes of 223 pregnancies exposed to gabapentin and 223 unexposed pregnancies.

    Extended Release Gabapentin (Neurontin) for Hot Flashes

    Several studies have shown that gabapentin (Neurontin) at 600-2400 mg/day in divided doses is effective for treating hot flashes in menopausal women.  Research presented at the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) indicates that an investigational extended release (ER) formulation of gabapentin (Serada, Depomed) is effective for the treatment of hot flashes and sleep disturbance.

    Clinical Case: Would You Use Gabapentin (Neurontin) During Pregnancy?

    Ms. P is a 32-year-old married woman who presented for consultation regarding the use of medication during pregnancy.  She had been taking fluoxetine (Prozac) 20 mg for many years for the treatment of recurrent major depression and generalized anxiety.  In addition, she was prescribed gabapentin (Neurontin) for sleep.

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