Ping: Pharmacists and Docs

[terpkristin]

Ok, this is completely random, but I can't get ahold of anyone locally that knows the answer, so I'm hoping someone here knows the answer....

I'm taking Gabapentin (generic for Neurontin) for nerve pain as prescribed by my pain management doc. This is a trial, and I'm doing an "ease into it" type of protocol, where I was taking 1 (300 mg) pill 3 times a day, the adding another at one of those times, and am now taking 1 pill once a day and 2 pills twice a day. I just realized that my doc did not give me enough to make it until my next appointment with him. I will obviously be calling him in the morning, but even then, I'll run out before my afternoon dose (and I'm assuming that if he calls it in, it won't be ready until after then).

So....
We tried this last year on 100 mg pills. My scrip then was filled on 11/19/10 and I still have the bottle. What is the shelf life of gabapentin? To make up the one dose, could I take 3 of the old pills?

As a side note, my bottle from last year has a warning label, "Do not take antacids within 2 hours of taking this medication." My current bottle does not have that warning (same pharmacy). What is the harm of taking antacids within 2 hours of gabapentin? I'm reasonably certain that in the last 2 weeks, I have done so at least once or twice...

/tk

[Eaglesfan27]

Prescription medicines (with a few exceptions) or generally good for at least 2 years. According to the official web site of the manufacturer of the trade name, Neurontin is good for a minimum of 2 years unless exposed to extreme temperatures. The generic should be the same. So, go ahead and use the 100 mg pills to make up the 300 mg dosage.

[terpkristin]

Thanks, EF!

/tk

[Glengoyne]

I figure that the 'shelf life' is simple marketing when it comes to pills. Throw out those old allergy pills and buy new.

Liquid meds are a different matter, but all of the pharmacists i work with agree with me. Well except for one that refused the five year old excedrin I offered for her headache. It worked for me right up to the last pill.

[Eaglesfan27]

Missed the antacid question the first time...

Antacids can decrease absorption of gabapentin. Not harmful per say, but decreasing effectiveness certainly can occur.