Daily Medication Pearl: Gabapentin Enacarbil (Horizant)

Medication Pearl of the Day: Gabapentin Enacarbil (Horizant)

Indication: Gabapentin enacarbil is indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome (RLS) in adults and the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in adults.

Insight:

• Dosing: For RLS, 600 mg once daily taken at about 5 pm. A dose of 1200 mg once daily provided no additional benefit compared with the 600-mg dose, but caused an increase in adverse reactions.
• Dosage forms: Extended-release tablets 300 mg and 600 mg.
• Adverse events (AEs): Most common AEs (≥10% and at least 2 times the rate of placebo) were somnolence/sedation and dizziness.
• Mechanism of action: Gabapentin prevents pain-related responses in several models of neuropathic pain in humans.
• Manufacturer: Arbor Pharmaceuticals

Sources:

Horizant Prescribing Information

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