Category: Health Services

A recent study found that gabapentin can effectively decrease postherpetic neuralgia at a dosage of 1,200 milligrams per day. This medication can be taken with or without food. The doctor will recommend the right dose and length of treatment for each person. Taking gabapentin for an extended period of time can cause addiction, but this not as euphoric as opioids and has a lower potential for abuse. However, if someone starts taking the medication for unapproved reasons, such as to counteract opioid withdrawal symptoms or to enhance the effects of other such as methadone, it can lead to psychological dependency and addiction. One study compared the effects of gabapentin with other painkillers in treating postherpetic neuralgia and found that it was the most effective of all medications tested. Another study found that it was equally as effective as a spinal cord stimulator, which uses electrical stimulation to block the pain signals from reaching the brain and can be implanted in the spine.