Get a gabapentin prescription online

Gabapentin is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analog, which means it has the same effect as GABA in the brain. GABA is found naturally in the body and lowers the activity levels of nerve cells (neurons) to make them less excitable. Nerve cell excitability plays a role in seizures, pain, and anxiety.

Reduced nerve cell excitability and calmer brain activity are thought also to ease the physical and mental symptoms that come with anxiety.

Gabapentin’s calming effect on brain activity isn’t immediate. In one study, people taking a 300- or 900-milligram dose of Gabapentin started feeling fewer anxiety symptoms within 4 weeks. Yet in a systemic review, its effectiveness was found to be dose-dependent. And doses of 900 milligrams a day were found to be needed for best results.

Gabapentin comes in tablet, capsule, extended-release tablet, and liquid forms. Generic gabapentin and brand-name Neurontin capsules come in 100-, 300-, and 400-milligram doses. Generic gabapentin and brand-name Neurontin tablets come in 600- and 800-milligram doses. If you’re taking gabapentin as a liquid, 2 milliliters is equal to a 100-milligram tablet or capsule. The liquid isn’t commonly prescribed for anxiety. 

Generic extended-release gabapentin and brand name Gralise come in 300-, 450-, 600-, 750- and 900-milligram tablets. Horizant comes in 300- and 600-milligram tablets.

For individuals 12 and older, the dose for immediate-release tablets or capsules or extended-release tablets ranges from 300 to 3,600 milligrams. Immediate-release doses are divided into 3 doses throughout the day. Extended-release tablets are taken once a day. 

Your provider will likely start you on 300 milligrams a day, divided across 3 doses, if you’re using gabapentin for anxiety. If the 300-milligram dose doesn’t improve your symptoms, your provider may increase your dose to find the right one for you. The typical maximum dose of any form of gabapentin is 1,800 milligrams. But in some cases, especially for epilepsy, up to 3,600 milligrams a day in divided doses is prescribed. If you have kidney problems, you may need to take less.

Generic gabapentin and Neurontin should be taken around the same time each day, and the 3 daily doses should be evenly spaced. All forms can be taken with or without food and swallowed whole and not crushed, divided, chewed, or dissolved first. 

If you stop taking gabapentin, Neurontin, or Gralise, slowly decrease your dose over a week to help prevent symptoms like anxiety, nausea, insomnia, and tremors.

There’s little research on gabapentin’s effectiveness for anxiety or anxiety disorders or how it compares to FDA-approved anxiety medications. Because of the effectiveness and safety of other common anti-anxiety drugs, like benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), gabapentin isn’t usually a first-line treatment for anxiety. 

SSRIs and SNRIs work differently than gabapentin. They increase serotonin (and norepinephrine, too, for SNRIs) by blocking its reabsorption (reuptake). Higher levels of serotonin help improve the communication between neurons in the brain, which is thought to better regulate mood and reduce anxiety. SSRIs and SNRIs are usually better tolerated and cause fewer side effects than other anxiety medications. 

Another class of drugs your provider may consider is benzodiazepines, like Xanax (alprazolam) or Ativan (lorazepam). These drugs are known as depressants because they slow down your central nervous system (CNS) to promote feelings of calmness and relaxation. They’re not meant for long-term use and are controlled substances that can be addictive. They may also cause side effects that included, but aren’t limited to, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, and depression.

Talk to your healthcare provider about which anxiety medication, if any, is right for you. And ask your provider or pharmacists about all possible side effects, contraindications, drug interactions, and warnings for any medication you’re prescribed.