FDA-label human titration schedule, creatinine-clearance renal dose adjustment, and veterinary literature dose ranges for dogs and cats — in one reference tool.
Starting schedule from the FDA-approved Neurontin label for postherpetic neuralgia: Day 1 = 300 mg once, Day 2 = 600 mg/day (300 mg twice daily), Day 3 = 900 mg/day (300 mg three times daily), then titrated up as needed toward 1800 mg/day.
Dose bands reproduce the FDA label Table 1 exactly (patients 12 years and older). Gabapentin is cleared by the kidneys, so lower creatinine clearance means a lower daily range.
Dose ranges reported in veterinary literature — not prescriptions. Every animal's dose must be set by its veterinarian.
The FDA-approved label for Neurontin (postherpetic neuralgia in adults) starts at 300 mg as a single dose on Day 1, 600 mg per day as 300 mg twice daily on Day 2, and 900 mg per day as 300 mg three times daily on Day 3. The dose can then be titrated upward as needed for pain relief. This calculator shows the label schedule plus example titration steps; the prescriber decides the actual plan.
In the clinical studies cited by the FDA label, efficacy was demonstrated over a range of 1800 to 3600 mg per day, but no additional benefit was demonstrated for doses above 1800 mg per day. The label titration target is 1800 mg per day as 600 mg three times daily. This tool caps the target at 3600 mg per day and flags targets above 1800 mg with the label's own caveat.
The FDA label gives a renal dosing table (Table 1) for patients 12 years and older: CrCl 60 or above, 900 to 3600 mg per day; CrCl 30 to 59, 400 to 1400 mg per day; CrCl above 15 to 29, 200 to 700 mg per day; CrCl 15, 100 to 300 mg per day; below 15, the daily dose is reduced in proportion to creatinine clearance. Patients on hemodialysis get a maintenance dose based on estimated CrCl plus a supplemental 125 to 350 mg after each 4 hours of dialysis. The renal mode of this calculator reproduces exactly this table.
Yes, and the FDA label itself points to Cockcroft-Gault for estimating creatinine clearance when renal function is stable: CrCl equals (140 minus age) times weight in kg, divided by (72 times serum creatinine), times 0.85 for females. This calculator includes that estimator, but the label notes it is difficult to measure CrCl in outpatients, and use in children under 12 with impaired renal function has not been studied. Treat the result as an estimate for discussion with the prescriber.
The label schedules gabapentin two or three times daily depending on the dose, and states the maximum time between doses should not exceed 12 hours. The capsules are swallowed whole with water, with or without food.
No. The FDA label states that when the dose is reduced, discontinued, or replaced, it should be done gradually over a minimum of 1 week, and longer tapering may be needed at the prescriber's discretion. Abruptly stopping antiepileptic drugs can increase seizure frequency. Never stop on your own; the taper plan comes from your clinician.
Veterinary references commonly cite 5 to 10 mg per kg by mouth every 12 hours for chronic pain (Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook). For neuropathic pain, clinical practice references start at 5 to 15 mg per kg every 12 hours and may go up to 40 mg per kg every 8 to 12 hours; for adjunctive seizure control, 10 to 20 mg per kg every 8 hours. Gabapentin is prescription-only and every dog's dose must come from its veterinarian, so this calculator shows literature ranges, not a prescription.
For reducing fear and stress before a veterinary visit, published feline studies used 50 to 100 mg per cat given once, about 90 to 120 minutes before the visit. For chronic pain, veterinary sources cite 5 to 10 mg per kg by mouth every 8 to 12 hours. Sedation and wobbliness are common, so the dose and timing must be set by the cat's veterinarian, especially in cats with kidney disease.
Some human liquid gabapentin products contain xylitol as a sweetener, and xylitol is toxic to dogs. Never give a dog a liquid gabapentin product unless the veterinarian has confirmed the exact formulation is xylitol-free. Capsules prescribed through the veterinarian avoid this problem.
The FDA label lists somnolence, dizziness, and ataxia (unsteadiness) as the most common, with somnolence in about 21 percent and dizziness in about 28 percent of postherpetic neuralgia patients on up to 3600 mg per day. Patients should not drive or operate machinery until they know how gabapentin affects them, and should watch for increased sedation when combined with other sedating drugs. Serious reactions such as allergic swelling, rash with fever, or mood changes need immediate medical care.
No. This tool only restates dosing information from the FDA-approved label and published veterinary literature so you can understand what a prescriber or veterinarian may discuss with you. It does not recommend a dose for you or your pet. Do not start, change, or stop gabapentin without the clinician or veterinarian in charge of care.
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