Ingredients of gabapentin?

Hello David,

History of Neurontin

The active ingredient of Neurontin, Gabapentin, was first discovered in 1970 in Japan. The Japanese was, at the time, looking for a muscle relaxer, or anti-spasmodic. The chemical was later sold to Warner - Lambert / Pfizer conglomerate, Parke - Davis, who realized the medications effective in treating the symptoms of epilepsy. The company put the medication under trails in small dosages, which lead Pfizer to categorize it as an add-on medication. This means that the patient was to be given a stronger anti-convulsant with a low dose of Gabapentin to be administered thereafter. At the same time the drug was being put through a different study with final results (incomplete), establishing Gabapentin as a mono therapy.

The company has also manufactured an extended release system that is currently used in the treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome. Restless Leg Syndrome is a condition, or neurologic disorder, in which the patient's leg continuously feels uncomfortable. This leads the patient to want to move his or her leg in an effort to somehow make them more comfortable, usually to no avail.

The medication works in a way to prevent pain and seizures in certain conditions that affect the nervous system. It is not to be used as a minor pain relief as it only affects the nervous system in certain conditions.

The active ingredient in NEURONTIN capsules, tablets, and oral solution is gabapentin,which has the chemical name 1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid.

The molecular formula of gabapentin is C9H17NO2 and the molecular weight is 171.24.

Gabapentin is a white to off-white crystalline solid with a pKa1 of 3.7 and a pKa2 of 10.7. It is freely soluble in water and both basic and acidic aqueous solutions. The log of the partition coefficient (n-octanol/0.05M phosphate buffer) at pH 7.4 is –1.25.

Each Neurontin capsule contains 100 mg, 300 mg, or 400 mg of gabapentin and the following inactive ingredients: lactose, cornstarch, talc, gelatin, titanium dioxide, FD&C Blue No. 2, yellow iron oxide (300 mg and 400 mg only), and red iron oxide (400 mg only).

Each Neurontin tablet contains 600 mg or 800 mg of gabapentin and the following inactive ingredients: poloxamer 407, copovidone, cornstarch, magnesium stearate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, talc, and candelilla wax

Neurontin oral solution contains 250 mg of gabapentin per 5 mL (50 mg per mL) and the following inactive ingredients: glycerin, xylitol, purified water, and artificial cool strawberry anise flavor.

All the best,