What is Alpentin?
Alpentin is used to help control partial seizures (convulsions) in the treatment of epilepsy. Alpentin cannot cure epilepsy and will only work to control seizures for as long as you continue to take it.
Alpentin is also used in adults to manage a condition called postherpetic neuralgia, which is pain that occurs after shingles.
Alpentin works in the brain to prevent seizures and relieve pain for certain conditions in the nervous system. It is not used for routine pain caused by minor injuries or arthritis. Alpentin is an anticonvulsant.
Alpentin is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, Alpentin is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Alpentin indications
Oral
Epilepsy
Adult: Initially, 300 mg on the 1st day, 300 mg bid on the 2nd day and 300 mg tid on the 3rd day. Thereafter, may increase dose until effective antiepileptic control is achieved. Usual maintenance range: 0.9-3.6 g daily; daily dose to be taken in 3 equally divided doses and max dosing interval: 12 hr. Max: 4.8 g daily.
Child: Renal impairment: Haemodialysis: Loading dose: 300-400 mg followed by 200-300 mg after each 4 hr of haemodialysis. Neuropathic pain Adult: Initially, 300 mg on the 1st day, 300 mg bid on the 2nd day and 300 mg tid on the 3rd day; alternatively, 900 mg daily in 3 divided doses. Dose may increase in increments of 300 mg every 2-3 days. Max: 3,600 mg daily. Renal impairment: Haemodialysis: Loading dose: 300-400 mg followed by 200-300 mg after each 4 hr of haemodialysis. Restless leg syndrome Adult: As Alpentin enacarbil: Modified-release preparation: Moderate to severe: 600 mg once daily at approx 5 pm. Renal impairment: As Alpentin enacarbil: Modified-release preparation: Haemodialysis: Not recommended. Postherpetic neuralgia Adult: As Alpentin enacarbil: Modified-release preparation: Initially, 600 mg in the morning for 3 days, then increased to 600 mg bid. Renal impairment: As Alpentin enacarbil: Modified-release preparation: Haemodialysis: 300 mg after each dialysis session, may increase to 600 mg if needed.CrCl (ml/min) Dosage Recommendation <15 300 mg on alternate days to 300 mg daily. 15-29 300 mg on alternate days to 600 mg daily. 30-49 300-900 mg daily. 50-79 600-1,800 mg daily. Oral
CrCl (ml/min) Dosage Recommendation <15 300 mg on alternate days to 300 mg daily. 15-29 300 mg on alternate days to 600 mg daily. 30-49 300-900 mg daily. 50-79 600-1,800 mg daily. Oral
CrCl (ml/min) Dosage Recommendation <15 300 mg on alternate days. 15-29 300 mg daily. 30-59 Initially, 300 mg daily, increased to 600 mg daily, if needed. Oral
CrCl (ml/min) Dosage Recommendation <15 300 mg in the morning on alternate days, may increase to 300 mg daily in the morning. 15-29 300 mg in the morning on days 1 and 3 followed by 300 mg daily in the morning, may increase to 300 mg bid. 30-59 300 mg in the morning for the 1st 3 days followed by 300 mg bid, may increase to 600 mg bid.
How should I use Alpentin?
Use Alpentin capsules as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Alpentin capsules comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Alpentin capsules refilled.
- Take Alpentin capsules by mouth with or without food.
- Swallow Alpentin capsules whole with plenty of water. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
- Do not take an antacid containing aluminum or magnesium within 2 hours before you take Alpentin capsules.
- Do not suddenly stop taking Alpentin capsules. Patients taking Alpentin capsules to prevent seizures may have an increased risk of seizures if the medicine is suddenly stopped. If you need to stop Alpentin capsules or add a new medicine, your doctor will gradually lower your dose.
- If you miss a dose of Alpentin capsules, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Alpentin capsules.
Uses of Alpentin in details
Alpentin is used with other medications to prevent and control seizures. It is also used to relieve nerve pain following shingles (a painful rash due to herpes zoster infection) in adults. Alpentin is known as an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug.
OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.
Alpentin may also be used to treat other nerve pain conditions (such as diabetic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia) and restless legs syndrome.
How to use Alpentin
Read the Medication Guide and, if available, the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking Alpentin and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. For children, the dosage is also based on weight.
If you are taking the tablets and your doctor directs you to split the tablet in half, take the other half-tablet at your next scheduled dose. Discard half tablets if not used within several days of splitting them. If you are taking the capsules, swallow them whole with plenty of water.
It is very important to follow your doctor's dosing instructions exactly. During the first few days of treatment, your doctor may gradually increase your dose so your body can adjust to the medication. To minimize side effects, take the very first dose at bedtime.
Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. This drug works best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take Alpentin at evenly spaced intervals at the same time(s) each day. If you are taking this medication 3 times a day to control seizures, do not let more than 12 hours pass between doses because your seizures may increase.
Do not take this medication more often or increase your dose without consulting your doctor. Your condition will not improve any faster and the risk of serious side effects may increase.
Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.
Antacids containing aluminum or magnesium may interfere with the absorption of this medication. Therefore, if you are also taking an antacid, it is best to take Alpentin at least 2 hours after taking the antacid.
Different forms of Alpentin (such as immediate-release, sustained-release, enacarbil sustained-release) are absorbed in the body differently. Do not switch from one form to the other without consulting your doctor.
Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.
Alpentin description
Novo-Alpentin (brand name Alpentin) is a medication originally developed for the treatment of epilepsy. Presently, Alpentin is widely used to relieve pain, especially neuropathic pain. Novo-Alpentin is well tolerated in most patients, has a relatively mild side-effect profile, and passes through the body unmetabolized.
Alpentin dosage
Alpentin Dosage
Generic name: Alpentin 300mg
Dosage form: tablet, film coated
The information at Drugs.com is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Postherpetic Neuralgia
Do not use Alpentin interchangeably with other Alpentin products.
Titrate Alpentin to an 1800 mg dose taken orally once daily with the evening meal. Alpentin tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not split, crush, or chew the tablets.
If Alpentin dose is reduced, discontinued, or substituted with an alternative medication, this should be done gradually over a minimum of one week or longer (at the discretion of the prescriber).
In adults with postherpetic neuralgia, Alpentin therapy should be initiated and titrated as follows:
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Days 3-6 | Days 7-10 | Days 11-14 | Day 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Dose | 300 mg | 600 mg | 900 mg | 1200 mg | 1500 mg | 1800 mg |
Patients with Renal Impairment
In patients with stable renal function, creatinine clearance (CCr) can be reasonably well estimated using the equation of Cockcroft and Gault:
For females CCr=(0.85)(140-age)(weight)/[(72)(SCr)]
For males CCr=(140-age)(weight)/[(72)(SCr)]
where age is in years, weight is in kilograms and SCr is serum creatinine in mg/dL.
The dose of Alpentin should be adjusted in patients with reduced renal function, according to Table 2. Patients with reduced renal function must initiate Alpentin at a daily dose of 300 mg. Alpentin should be titrated following the schedule outlined in Table 1. Daily dosing in patients with reduced renal function must be individualized based on tolerability and desired clinical benefit.
| Once-daily dosing | |
|---|---|
| Creatinine Clearance (mL/min) | Alpentin Dose (once daily with evening meal) |
| ≥ 60 | 1800 mg |
| 30 - 60 | 600 mg to 1800 mg |
| < 30 | Alpentin should not be administered |
| patients receiving hemodialysis | Alpentin should not be administered |
More about Alpentin (Alpentin)
- Side Effects
- During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
- Dosage Information
- Drug Images
- Drug Interactions
- Support Group
- En Espanol
- 5 Reviews - Add your own review/rating
Consumer resources
- Alpentin
- Alpentin (Advanced Reading)
- Other brands: Alpentin, Alpentin
Professional resources
- Alpentin (FDA)
- Alpentin (AHFS Monograph)
Related treatment guides
- Postherpetic Neuralgia
Alpentin interactions
See also:
What other drugs will affect Alpentin?
There are spontaneous and literature case reports of respiratory depression and/or sedation associated with Alpentin and opioid use. In some of these reports, the authors considered this a particular concern with the combination of Alpentin and opioids, especially in elderly patients.
Morphine: In a study involving healthy volunteers (N=12) when a 60 mg controlled-release morphine capsule was administered 2 hours prior to a 600 mg Alpentin capsule, mean Alpentin AUC increased by 44% compared to Alpentin administered without morphine. This was associated with an increased pain threshold (cold pressor test). The clinical significance of such changes has not been defined. Morphine pharmacokinetic parameter values were not affected by administration of Alpentin 2 hours after morphine. The observed opioid-mediated side effects associated with morphine plus Alpentin did not differ significantly from morphine plus placebo. The magnitude of interaction at other doses is not known.
No interaction between Alpentin and phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproic acid or carbamazepine has been observed. Alpentin steady-state pharmacokinetics are similar for healthy subjects and patients with epilepsy receiving these antiepileptic agents.
Co-administration of Alpentin with oral contraceptives containing norethindrone and/or ethinyl estradiol does not influence the steady-state pharmacokinetics of either component.
Co-administration of Alpentin with antacids containing aluminum and magnesium reduces Alpentin bioavailability by about 20%. It is recommended that Alpentin be taken about 2 hours following antacid administration.
Renal excretion of Alpentin is unaltered by probenecid.
A slight decrease in renal excretion of Alpentin observed when it is co-administered with cimetidine is not expected to be of clinical importance.
Laboratory Tests: False-positive readings were reported in the Ames N-Multistix SG dipstick test when Alpentin was added to other anticonvulsant drugs. To determine urinary protein, the more specific sulfosalicylic acid precipitation procedure is recommended.
Alpentin side effects
See also:
What are the possible side effects of Alpentin?
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
A total of 359 patients with neuropathic pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia have received Alpentin at doses up to 1800 mg daily during placebo-controlled clinical studies. In clinical trials in patients with postherpetic neuralgia, 9.7% of the 359 patients treated with
Alpentin and 6.9% of 364 patients treated with placebo discontinued prematurely due to adverse reactions. In the Alpentin treatment group, the most common reason for discontinuation due to adverse reactions was dizziness. Of Alpentin-treated patients who experienced adverse reactions in clinical studies, the majority of those adverse reactions were either “mild” or “moderate”.
Table 4 lists all adverse reactions, regardless of causality, occurring in at least 1% of patients with neuropathic pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia in the Alpentin group for which the incidence was greater than in the placebo group.
Table 4: Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reaction Incidence in Controlled Trials in Neuropathic Pain Associated with Postherpetic Neuralgia (Events in at Least 1% of all Alpentin-Treated Patients and More Frequent Than in the Placebo Group)
| Body System - Preferred Term | Alpentin N = 359 % | Placebo N = 364 % |
| Ear and Labyrinth Disorders | ||
| Vertigo | 1.4 | 0.5 |
| Gastrointestinal Disorders | ||
| Diarrhea | 3.3 | 2.7 |
| Dry mouth | 2.8 | 1.4 |
| Constipation | 1.4 | 0.3 |
| Dyspepsia | 1.4 | 0.8 |
| General Disorders | ||
| Peripheral edema | 3.9 | 0.3 |
| Pain | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| Infections and Infestations | ||
| Nasopharyngitis | 2.5 | 2.2 |
| Urinary tract infection | 1.7 | 0.5 |
| Investigations | ||
| Weight increased | 1.9 | 0.5 |
| Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders | ||
| Pain in extremity | 1.9 | 0.5 |
| Back pain | 1.7 | 1.1 |
| Nervous System Disorders | ||
| Dizziness | 10.9 | 2.2 |
| Somnolence | 4.5 | 2.7 |
| Headache | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Lethargy | 1.1 | 0.3 |
In addition to the adverse reactions reported in Table 4 above, the following adverse reactions with an uncertain relationship to Alpentin were reported during the clinical development for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Events in more than 1% of patients but equally or more frequently in the Alpentin-treated patients than in the placebo group included blood pressure increase, confusional state, gastroenteritis viral, herpes zoster, hypertension, joint swelling, memory impairment, nausea, pneumonia, pyrexia, rash, seasonal allergy, and upper respiratory infection.
Postmarketing And Other Experience With Other Formulations Of Alpentin
In addition to the adverse experiences reported during clinical testing of Alpentin, the following adverse experiences have been reported in patients receiving other formulations of marketed Alpentin. These adverse experiences have not been listed above and data are insufficient to support an estimate of their incidence or to establish causation. The listing is alphabetized: angioedema, blood glucose fluctuation, breast enlargement, elevated creatine kinase, elevated liver function tests, erythema multiforme, fever, hyponatremia, jaundice, movement disorder, Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Adverse events following the abrupt discontinuation of Alpentin immediate release have also been reported. The most frequently reported events were anxiety, insomnia, nausea, pain and sweating.
Alpentin contraindications
See also:
What is the most important information I should know about Alpentin?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to Alpentin.
Before taking Alpentin, tell your doctor if you have kidney, liver, or heart disease.
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Alpentin. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, depression, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Do not stop taking Alpentin for seizures without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel fine. You may have increased seizures if you stop using Alpentin suddenly. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.
Contact your doctor if your seizures get worse or you have them more often while taking Alpentin.
Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take Alpentin. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you take seizure medication.
Active ingredient matches for Alpentin:
Gabapentin in Indonesia.
| Unit description / dosage (Manufacturer) | Price, USD |
| Alpentin 100 mg x 5 x 10's | $ 21.08 |
| Alpentin 300 mg x 5 x 10's | $ 39.06 |
| Capsules; Oral; Gabapentin 100 mg | |
| Capsules; Oral; Gabapentin 300 mg | |
List of Alpentin substitutes (brand and generic names): | |
| Alidial (Argentina) | |
| Anatin (Vietnam) | |
| Anatin 300 mg x 1 Blister x 10 Tablet | |
| Apentin (Italy) | |
| Apo-Gab (Czech Republic) | |
| Apo-Gabapentin (Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia) | |
| Capsule; Oral; Gabapentin 100 mg (Apotex) | |
| Capsule; Oral; Gabapentin 300 mg (Apotex) | |
| Capsule; Oral; Gabapentin 400 mg (Apotex) | |
| Capsule; Oral; Gabapentin 600 mg (Apotex) | |
| Capsule; Oral; Gabapentin 800 mg (Apotex) | |
| Apo-Gabapentin 100 mg x 100's (Apotex) | |
| Apo-Gabapentin 300 mg x 100's (Apotex) | |
| Apo-Gabapentin 400 mg x 100's (Apotex) | |
| Capsules; Oral; Gabapentin 100 mg (Apotex) | |
| Capsules; Oral; Gabapentin 300 mg (Apotex) | |
| Capsules; Oral; Gabapentin 400 mg (Apotex) | |
| Capsules; Oral; Gabapentin 600 mg (Apotex) | |
| Capsules; Oral; Gabapentin 800 mg (Apotex) | |
| Apo-Gabapentin 300 mg x 10 x 10's (Apotex) | |
| Apo-Gabapentin cap 300 mg 100's (Apotex) | |
| Apo-Gabapentin cap 400 mg 100's (Apotex) | |
| Apo-gabapentin tablet 600 mg (Apotex) | |
| Apo-gabapentin tablet 800 mg (Apotex) | |
| Arapentin (Argentina) | |
| ARIGABA | |
| ARIGABA 100 MG TABLET 1 strip / 10 tablets each (Arinna Lifescience Pvt Ltd) | $ 0.54 |
| ARIGABA 300 MG TABLET 1 strip / 10 tablets each (Arinna Lifescience Pvt Ltd) | $ 1.64 |
| Arigaba 100mg Tablet (Arinna Lifescience Pvt Ltd) | $ 0.06 |
| Arigaba 300mg Tablet (Arinna Lifescience Pvt Ltd) | $ 0.18 |
| Arrow Gabapentin (New Zealand) | |
| As-Gabapen 600 mg (Turkey) | |
| As-Gabapen 800 mg (Turkey) | |
| Asmeth-G (India) | |
| Asmeth-G Gabapentin 300 mg, methylcobalamin 500 mcg. TAB / 10 (Astrum) | |
| ASMETH-G tab 10's (Astrum) | |
| Auro-Gabapentin (Canada) | |
| Auro-gabapentin capsule 100 mg (Auro Pharma Inc (Canada)) | |
| Auro-gabapentin capsule 300 mg (Auro Pharma Inc (Canada)) | |
| Auro-gabapentin capsule 400 mg (Auro Pharma Inc (Canada)) | |
| Axilep (Argentina) | |
| Bapex (Mexico) | |
| Capsule; Oral; Gabapentin 300 mg (Probiomed) | |
| Capsule; Oral; Gabapentin 400 mg (Probiomed) | |
| Capsules; Oral; Gabapentin 300 mg (Probiomed) | |
| Capsules; Oral; Gabapentin 400 mg (Probiomed) | |
| Barontin (South Korea) | |
| Belgabin (Greece) | |
See 1541 substitutes for Alpentin | |
References
- DailyMed. "GABAPENTIN: DailyMed provides trustworthy information about marketed drugs in the United States. DailyMed is the official provider of FDA label information (package inserts).". https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailyme... (accessed September 17, 2018).
- PubChem. "gabapentin". https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/com... (accessed September 17, 2018).
- DrugBank. "gabapentin". http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00996 (accessed September 17, 2018).
Reviews
The results of a survey conducted on ndrugs.com for Alpentin are given in detail below. The results of the survey conducted are based on the impressions and views of the website users and consumers taking Alpentin. We implore you to kindly base your medical condition or therapeutic choices on the result or test conducted by a physician or licensed medical practitioners.User reports
1 consumer reported useful
Was the Alpentin drug useful in terms of decreasing the symptom or the disease?According to the reports released by ndrugs.com website users, the below mentioned percentages of users say the drug is useful / not useful to them in decreasing their symptoms/disease. The usefulness of the drug depends on many factors, like severity of the disease, perception of symptom, or disease by the patient, brand name used [matters only to a certain extent], other associated conditions of the patient. If the drug is not effective or useful in your case, you need to meet the doctor to get re-evaluated about your symptoms/disease, and he will prescribe an alternative drug.
| Users | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Useful | 1 | 100.0% | |
Consumer reported price estimates
No survey data has been collected yet1 consumer reported time for results
To what extent do I have to use Alpentin before I begin to see changes in my health conditions?As part of the reports released by ndrugs.com website users, it takes 1 day and a few days before you notice an improvement in your health conditions.
Please note, it doesn't mean you will start to notice such health improvement in the same time frame as other users. There are many factors to consider, and we implore you to visit your doctor to know how long before you can see improvements in your health while taking Alpentin. To get the time effectiveness of using Alpentin drug by other patients, please click here.
| Users | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 1 | 100.0% | |
2 consumers reported age
| Users | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-45 | 1 | 50.0% | |
| 16-29 | 1 | 50.0% | |
Consumer reviews
There are no reviews yet. Be the first to write one! |
Information checked by Dr. Sachin Kumar, MD Pharmacology
