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1. About gabapentin

Gabapentin is used to treat epilepsy.


Occasionally, gabapentin is used to treat migraine headaches.


2. Key facts

  • It's usual to take gabapentin 3 times a day. You can take it with or without food.
  • Most people who take gabapentin don't get any side effects. The most common ones are feeling sleepy, tired and dizzy. Side effects are usually mild and go away by themselves.
  • It takes at least a few weeks for gabapentin to work.
  • You don't need to have epilepsy for gabapentin to help with pain or migraine.
  • The most common brand name is Neurontin.

3. Who can and can't take gabapentin

Gabapentin can be taken by adults and children aged 6 years and over.

Gabapentin isn't suitable for some people.

To make sure gabapentin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:

  • have ever had an allergic reaction to gabapentin or other medicines in the past
  • have ever misused or been addicted to a medicine
  • are trying to get pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding
  • are on a controlled sodium or potassium diet, or your kidneys don't work well (gabapentin liquid contains sodium and potassium, so speak to your doctor before taking it)

4. How and when to take it

Gabapentin is a prescription medicine. It's important to take it as advised by your doctor.

How much to take

The usual dose of gabapentin to:

  • treat epilepsy in adults and older children (aged 12 years and over) is between 900mg and 3,600mg a day split into 3 doses
  • treat nerve pain in adults is between 900mg and 3,600mg a day split into 3 doses
  • prevent migraine in adults varies, but can be up to 2,400mg a day split into 3 doses


If you're taking gabapentin as a liquid, 1ml is usually the same as taking a 50mg tablet or capsule. Always check the label.

How to take it

Swallow gabapentin capsules and tablets whole with a drink of water or juice. Do not chew them.

You can take gabapentin with or without food, but it's best to do the same each day.

Try to space your doses evenly through the day. For example, first thing in the morning, early afternoon and at bedtime.

If you or your child are taking a liquid, it'll come with a plastic syringe or spoon to measure your dose.

Do not use a kitchen spoon, as it will not give the right amount.

If you don't have a spoon, ask your pharmacist for one.

Will my dose go up or down?


Once you find a dose that suits you, it'll usually stay the same.

How long will I take it for?

If you have epilepsy, it's likely that once your illness is under control you'll still need to take gabapentin for many years.


What if I forget to take it?


If it's within 2 hours of the next dose, it's better to leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as normal.





What if I take too much?

Taking too much gabapentin by accident can cause unpleasant side effects.

Urgent advice: Call your doctor or go to A&E straight away if you take too much gabapentin and you:

  • feel dizzy or sleepy
  • see double
  • start slurring your words
  • have diarrhoea
  • pass out

Find your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department straight away.


5. Side effects

Like all medicines, gabapentin can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects


They're usually mild and go away by themselves.


  • feeling sleepy, tired or dizzy
  • feeling sick (nausea)
  • being sick (vomiting) and diarrhoea
  • getting more infections than usual
  • mood changes
  • swollen arms and legs
  • blurred vision
  • dry mouth
  • difficulties for men getting an erection
  • weight gain - gabapentin can make you feel hungry
  • memory problems
  • headaches

Serious side effects

Very few people taking gabapentin have serious problems.

Call a doctor 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
  • long-lasting stomach pain, feeling sick or vomiting - these may be warning signs of an inflamed pancreas
  • muscle pain or weakness and you're having dialysis treatment because of kidney failure
  • hallucinations

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to gabapentin.


  • you're wheezing
  • you get tightness in the chest or throat
  • you have trouble breathing or talking


These aren't all the side effects of gabapentin.




6. How to cope with side effects

What to do about:

  • feeling sleepy, tired or dizzy - as your body gets used to gabapentin, these side effects should wear off. If they don't wear off within a week or two, your doctor may reduce your dose or increase it more slowly. If that doesn't work, you may need to switch to a different medicine.
  • feeling sick (nausea) - take gabapentin with or after a meal or snack. It may also help if you don't eat rich or spicy food.
  • being sick (vomiting) and diarrhoea - drink plenty of water or other fluids to avoid dehydration. Take small sips if you feel sick. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea or vomiting without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
  • mood changes - if you feel this medicine is causing mood changes, talk to your doctor. You may be able to change to an alternative medicine.
  • swollen arms and legs - try sitting with your feet raised and try not to stand for a long time. Gently exercising your arms might help. Talk to your doctor if this doesn't get better.
  • a dry mouth - chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free sweets.
  • difficulties for men getting an erection - speak to your doctor, as they may be able to change your medicine or offer other treatments that might help with this problem.
  • weight gain - gabapentin can make you hungrier, so it can be quite a challenge to stop yourself putting on weight. Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet without increasing your portion sizes. Do not snack on foods that contain a lot of calories, such as crisps, cakes, biscuits and sweets. If you feel hungry between meals, eat fruit and vegetables and low-calorie foods. Regular exercise will also help to keep your weight stable.
  • headaches - make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking gabapentin. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.

7. Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Gabapentin is not generally recommended in pregnancy.

There's no firm evidence that it's harmful to an unborn baby, but for safety pregnant women are usually advised to take it only if the benefits of the medicine outweigh the potential harm.

If you take gabapentin for epilepsy and become pregnant, do not stop the medicine without talking to your doctor first.


If you're trying to get pregnant or have become pregnant, you're routinely recommended to take at least 400mcg of a vitamin called folic acid everyday. It helps the unborn baby grow normally.

Pregnant women who take gabapentin are recommended to take a higher dose of folic acid.

Your doctor might prescribe a high dose of 5mg a day for you to take during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

If you take gabapentin around the time of giving birth, your baby may need extra monitoring for a few days after they're born because they may have gabapentin withdrawal symptoms.

For more information about how gabapentin can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read this leaflet on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website.

Gabapentin and breastfeeding

Usually, you can breastfeed while taking gabapentin.

Check with your doctor first though if your baby is premature or has kidney problems.

Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:

  • trying to get pregnant
  • pregnant
  • breastfeeding

8. Cautions with other medicines

There aren't usually any problems mixing gabapentin with other medicines.

Some indigestion remedies, called antacids, reduce the amount of gabapentin that the body takes in so it doesn't work as well.

To stop this happening, take an antacid at least 2 hours before or after your dose of gabapentin.

For safety, tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start gabapentin treatment:

  • strong painkillers, such as morphine - these can increase the tiredness and dizziness you can feel when you start gabapentin
  • antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or fluoxetine
  • antipsychotic medicines for mental health problems like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
  • a medicine to prevent malaria called mefloquine
  • a weight loss medicine called Orlistat - it may stop gabapentin working as well

Mixing gabapentin with herbal remedies or supplements

There are no known problems with taking herbal remedies and supplements with gabapentin.



9. Common questions

How does gabapentin work?

In epilepsy, it's thought that gabapentin stops seizures by reducing the abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

With nerve pain and migraine, it's thought to interfere with pain messages travelling through the brain and down the spine to block pain.

When will I feel better?

It takes a few weeks for gabapentin to work properly.

You may still have seizures or pain during this time.

Can I get addicted to gabapentin?


If this happens, you'll have withdrawal symptoms after you stop taking the medicine.

Talk to your doctor if you're concerned about becoming physically dependent on gabapentin.

Can I get epilepsy medicines for free?





Are there similar medicines to gabapentin?

Pregabalin (also called Lyrica) is a medicine that works in a similar way to gabapentin.

Like gabapentin, it's taken for epilepsy and nerve pain. It can also be taken for anxiety.

But there are differences between pregabalin and gabapentin.

Pregabalin can be taken less often and in different doses to gabapentin.

If you need to change to pregabalin treatment, your doctor will explain how to safely swap from gabapentin.

Is gabapentin a controlled medicine?



If you're collecting gabapentin for someone else, you're legally required to show the pharmacist proof of your identity if asked.

How do I pick up a prescription for a controlled medicine?


It’s best to hand in your repeat prescription request up to five days before you’re due to run out of gabapentin. This will give your doctor enough time to sign it.




Should I stick to the same brand of gabapentin?

Most people don't have to stay on the same brand of gabapentin as there's very little difference between brands.

Talk to your doctor if you have been asked to switch to a different brand and are worried about that.

If your epilepsy has been hard to control in the past and the brand you're now taking is working well for you, your doctor may recommend you stay on the same one.

Is it safe to take it for a long time?

There's no evidence that gabapentin has lasting harmful effects, even if you take it for many months or years.

What will happen when I come off it?


Stopping gabapentin suddenly can cause serious problems.

If you have epilepsy, stopping gabapentin suddenly can cause seizures that will not stop.

If you're taking it for any reason and stop suddenly, you may have a severe withdrawal syndrome.

This can have unpleasant symptoms, including:

  • anxiety
  • difficulty sleeping
  • feeling sick
  • pain
  • sweating

It's possible to prevent withdrawal seizures and other symptoms by gradually reducing the dose of gabapentin.

Do not stop taking gabapentin without talking to your doctor – you'll need to reduce your dose gradually.

Will recreational drugs affect it?

Gabapentin can intensify the highs of recreational drugs like cannabis and heroin.

So, if you use recreational drugs alongside gabapentin, there may be more chance of unpleasant side effects like panic attacks, anxiety and memory loss.

Can I drink alcohol with it?

Yes, you can drink alcohol with gabapentin. But it may make you feel sleepy or tired.

During the first few days of taking gabapentin, it might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you.

Will it affect my fertility?

There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking gabapentin will reduce fertility in either men or women.


Will it affect my contraception?

Gabapentin doesn't affect any type of contraception, including the combined contraceptive pill and emergency contraception.

Can I drive or ride a bike?

You may feel sleepy, tired or dizzy when you first start taking gabapentin.

This may also happen if your dose has increased.

If this happens to you, do not drive or ride a bike until you feel better.

If you have epilepsy, you're not allowed to drive until you have had no seizures for 1 year, or if you only have seizures while you're asleep.

You're also not allowed to drive if your epilepsy medicine has changed and for 6 months after.