General Information on Horizant
Horizant is a medicine used for treating restless legs syndrome ranging from moderate to severe in degree. Active ingredient in the medicine is Gabapentin Enacarbil, and it belongs to the class of anticonvulsant or anti-seizure medicines.
Restless Legs syndrome, also known as Ekbom Disease, is a neurological condition in which the patient feels a strong urge to move legs and it is caused due to an unpleasant sensation the patient feels in the legs.
The medicine is available in the form of sustained release oral tablets. It works by using your body’s nutrient transport mechanism, so that it can be efficiently absorbed by your body.
Side effects of Horizant
Before you buy Horizant, inform your doctor if you have allergy to it or if you have a kidney disease or mental or mood problem such as suicidal thoughts or depression. Such patients may have more risks of developing serious side effects of the drug.
As the medicine may cause blurred vision, drowsiness and dizziness, you should not drive a vehicle or do any such activity, after consuming it as it may lead to a serious accident. Also, limit alcohol intake during Horizant treatment, in order to minimize side effects of dizziness or drowsiness.
Breast feeding mothers should not take Horizant, as the drug may pass into their breast milk and harm the infant. If taking the medicine cannot be avoided, you should stop breast-feeding the child temporarily during Horizant treatment.
The patients on Horizant may commonly experience blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness or loss of coordination. These are mild side effects of the drug and have nothing to worry. But you should inform your doctor if any of these become too troublesome.
You may also experience depression, mental, mood problem, suicidal thoughts, or attempts during Horizant treatment, especially if you are taking anticonvulsant for treating seizures, pain or bipolar disorder. Seek medical help immediately if you develop unusual or sudden changes in your mood or behavior such as depression, suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Some patients may develop an allergic reaction to the medicine. Symptoms of an allergy include severe dizziness, facial swelling, difficulty breathing or hives on any part or on entire body.
Dosage of Horizant
Usually, your doctor will advise you to take one Horizant 600mg tablet once a day. You will have to take the tablet with your meal, usually at 5pm.
Taking more medicine than this does not help in improveing the condition any better or faster. In fact, it may worsen the condition and increases risks of developing serious side effects of the drug.
The tablet should be swallowed whole, without cutting, crushing, chewing or dissolving it.
Drug Interactions of Horizant
Your doctor will not recommend you to buy Horizant if you are already taking any other medicine that contains Gabapentin.
Since Horizant induces dizziness, you must avoid taking other medications that have the same effect, including antihistamines (e.g. diphenhydramine or cetirizine), anti-anxiety medicines or sleeping pills (e.g. diazepam or alprazolam), narcotic pain relievers (e.g. morphine or codeine), muscle relaxants, antidepressants or anti-seizure medicines. You must share with your doctor the complete information about your disease as well as all the medicines that you are consuming.
