Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant (antiseizure) medication approved by the FDA to treat several conditions. Doctors sometimes prescribe gabapentin "off-label" to treat other conditions as well. A 2022 report stated that gabapentin was among the 10 most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S.
What is gabapentin and what is it used for?
Gabapentin is used to control seizures, to treat nerve pain that can happen after having had shingles, and to treat a condition called restless legs syndrome.
In addition to these FDA-approved uses, doctors sometimes prescribe gabapentin off-label. Off-label use means there is some evidence to show that a drug may be medically appropriate to treat conditions other than those for which it was approved.
Gabapentin is sold under the brand name Neurontin and is available as a generic product as well. (Generic medications are chemically the same as brand-name drugs but may cost less.) Gabapentin is also available as an extended-release tablet that works for a longer length of time; this is the only formulation that is approved for restless legs syndrome.
Gabapentin is taken by mouth and comes in capsule, tablet, and liquid form.
Conditions treated with gabapentin
Gabapentin is FDA-approved as Neurontin to treat partial seizures in adults and children with epilepsy. Partial seizures are convulsions that originate from a single location in the brain.
Neurontin is also approved to treat a type of nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN. PHN can happen after a person has had shingles, an infection from the same virus as chickenpox that causes a painful rash or blisters. Nerve pain from PHN can last for months, or even longer, after the rash has gone away.
An extended-release form of gabapentin is also FDA-approved to treat PHN.
Another extended-release form of gabapentin is FDA-approved to treat restless legs syndrome. This condition causes unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them around, especially at night, which disrupts sleep.
Off-label uses for gabapentin
Doctors often prescribe gabapentin off-label to treat conditions such as:
- pain from diabetic neuropathy, which is numbness or uncomfortable tingling caused by nerve damage from diabetes
- nerve pain in the neck and back from conditions such as sciatica, a painful compression of the sciatic nerve
- hot flashes, which are sudden feelings of heat and sweating that can happen in women after menopause and in those being treated for breast cancer
- mood disorders such as anxiety
- alcohol addiction.
How gabapentin works
In people with partial seizures, gabapentin works by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain. Experts believe gabapentin may cause brain cells to produce more of a chemical called GABA, which reduces abnormal electrical activity of brain cells.
In people experiencing nerve pain after having had shingles, gabapentin is thought to change the way pain signals are sent through the body and brain.
It's not entirely clear how gabapentin works to treat restless legs syndrome.
Side effects of gabapentin
Common side effects of gabapentin include:
- drowsiness or dizziness
- headache or blurred vision
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
- dry mouth
- weight gain
- swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles
- back or joint pain
- flulike symptoms such as fever or body aches.
Rare but serious side effects
Rare but serious side effects of gabapentin include:
- rash, itching, or yellowing of the skin
- swelling of the face and throat, a condition called angioedema
- problems speaking or swallowing
- changes in memory, ability to concentrate, or personality.
Gabapentin may cause breathing problems in people who use opioid pain medicines and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Older adults who take gabapentin also are at higher risk of breathing problems.
Because gabapentin can enhance the psychological effect of opioids, it has the potential to be abused and has contributed to drug overdose deaths.
Drugs such as gabapentin have been linked in rare cases to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If you take gabapentin, you or your family should tell the doctor about any unusual changes in your mood, such as agitation, violence, aggression, depression, or talking about wanting to hurt yourself.
Safely stopping treatment with gabapentin
If you stop taking gabapentin suddenly, there is a chance of having seizures. Instead, you may need to gradually reduce how much gabapentin you take until you stop it completely. Your doctor can advise you on how to safely stop treatment with gabapentin.
FAQs
Gabapentin may cause vision changes, clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, or trouble with thinking. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well.
What is the biggest side effect of gabapentin? ›
Gabapentin may cause vision changes, clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, or trouble with thinking. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well.
What is the bad news about gabapentin? ›
FDA is warning that serious, life-threatening, and fatal respiratory depression has been reported with the gabapentinoids, gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) and pregabalin (Lyrica, Lyrica CR).
What should I monitor when taking gabapentin? ›
Check with your doctor right away if you have pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin, difficult or trouble breathing, or irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing. Do not stop using gabapentin without checking with your doctor. Stopping the medicine suddenly may cause seizures.
What should I avoid while taking gabapentin? ›
Taking herbal remedies and supplements that can make you feel dizzy or drowsy while you're taking gabapentin could make these side effects worse. Gabapentin can intensify the highs of recreational drugs like cannabis and heroin.
What is the new warning on gabapentin? ›
Gabapentin and pregabalin are used to treat a variety of neurologic conditions including seizures, nerve pain, and restless legs syndrome. The new warning concerns the risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression with this class of drugs.
What are the horrors of gabapentin? ›
Cognitive Impairment: Some individuals may experience cognitive impairment while taking gabapentin, including confusion, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating. These effects can impair daily functioning and quality of life.
What organ does gabapentin affect? ›
Gabapentin is a unique anticonvulsant that is used as adjunctive therapy in management of epilepsy and for neuropathic pain syndromes. Therapy with gabapentin is not associated with serum aminotransferase elevations, but several cases of clinically apparent liver injury from gabapentin have been reported.
Who cannot take gabapentin? ›
have ever misused or been addicted to a medicine. are trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant. are on a controlled sodium or potassium diet, or your kidneys do not work well (gabapentin liquid contains sodium and potassium, so speak to your doctor before taking it)
Why are people suing gabapentin? ›
Filed by former Parke-Davis employee David Franklin, this lawsuit alleged that the company violated federal regulations by engaging in systematic efforts to promote the anti-seizure drug gabapentin (Neurontin) for uses not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Very few people taking gabapentin have serious problems. Call a doctor or call 111 straight away if you have a serious side effect, including: thoughts of harming or killing yourself – a small number of people taking gabapentin have had suicidal thoughts, which can happen after only a week of treatment.
What supplements cannot be taken with gabapentin? ›
Gabapentin can interact with some over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements, too. These include antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) as well as antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum.
Can I drink caffeine while on gabapentin? ›
Gabapentin and caffeine
While caffeine doesn't interact directly with gabapentin, caffeine can worsen anxiety and sleep disorders, which are two conditions that gabapentin may be prescribed off-label to treat. Consuming caffeine in moderation is recommended to prevent anxiety symptoms.
What are the negatives of gabapentin? ›
Common side effects of gabapentin include:
- Feeling tired.
- Dizziness.
- Headache.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Fever.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Recurring infections.
- Memory loss.
You can eat and drink normally while taking gabapentin.
What are the dangers of gabapentin in the elderly? ›
However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted effects (eg, problems with balance or walking, swelling in the feet or legs) and age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving gabapentin.
Is gabapentin bad for seniors? ›
However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted effects (eg, problems with balance or walking, swelling in the feet or legs) and age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving gabapentin.
Why is gabapentin a high risk medication? ›
Gabapentin is known to cause respiratory depression, particularly when combined with other central nervous system depressants. Long-term use can cause physiologic dependence and withdrawal syndrome on cessation, characterized by diaphoresis, anxiety, confusion and, rarely, seizures.
Can gabapentin affect your bowel movements? ›
Official answer. Gabapentin may cause constipation, but it is not a common side effect. In clinical trials of adults taking gabapentin for nerve pain, only about 4% of people reported constipation.
