How does GRALISE relieve after-shingles pain?
contains gabapentin, which has been used for years in the treatment of after-shingles pain.1
However, the exact way that gabapentin works against after-shingles pain isn't currently known.2After-shingles pain may be the product of damaged nerves sending "mistaken" messages to your brain
After-shingles pain is caused by nerves acting in ways they shouldn't. Gabapentin may somehow reduce the amount of signals these nerves send to the brain.1
What makes GRALISE different?
GRALISE, taken once a day with your evening meal, reduces after-shingles pain by gradually releasing gabapentin over a 24-hour period. This makes GRALISE different from other gabapentin products because you only need to take it once a day with the evening meal.2
Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking GRALISE without first talking to your doctor. Do not operate heavy machines or do other dangerous activities until you know how GRALISE affects you. It is recommended that GRALISE be taken at least 2 hours following antacid administration.2
Before taking GRALISE, tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney problems or get kidney dialysis.
GRALISE is a prescription medicine used in adults, 18 years and older, to treat pain from damaged nerves (neuropathic pain) that follows healing of shingles (a painful rash that comes after a herpes zoster infection).
Do not take GRALISE if you are allergic to gabapentin or any of the ingredients in GRALISE.
Do not change your dose or stop taking GRALISE without talking with your healthcare provider.
If you stop taking GRALISE suddenly, you may experience side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about how to stop GRALISE slowly.
Like other antiepileptic drugs, gabapentin, the active ingredient in GRALISE, may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. However, it is not known if GRALISE is safe and effective in people with seizure problems (epilepsy). Therefore, GRALISE should not be used in place of other gabapentin products.
It is not known if GRALISE is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age with postherpetic pain.
Before taking GRALISE, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- have or have had depression, mood problems or suicidal thoughts or behavior
- have seizures
- have kidney problems or get kidney dialysis
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking GRALISE.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. GRALISE can pass into your breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins or herbal supplements. Taking GRALISE with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.
Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking GRALISE without first talking to your healthcare provider. Taking GRALISE with alcohol or medicines that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse.
Do not operate heavy machines or do other dangerous activities until you know how GRALISE affects you. GRALISE can slow your thinking and motor skills.