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Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant medication commonly prescribed off-label for anxiety, anxiety disorders, or restless leg syndrome.
Need a Gabapentin prescription online? Connect with a licensed provider and get your prescription or refills within 24 hours if medically appropriate. Enjoy affordable, pay-as-you-go pricing with no hidden fees.
Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy; a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription is not guaranteed.
Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy; a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription is not guaranteed.
You’re unique. And your needs are too. You deserve treatment from a provider committed to you. Find an anxiety specialist on Klarity Health and access:
from a licensed, board-certified healthcare professional.
or off through treatment tailored to you.**
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your appointment. Transparent pricing, no hidden fees.
**Your provider will discuss treatment options with you, which may or may not include medication and/or therapy. If both therapy and medication are recommended, you’ll see a different provider for each service.
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Gabapentin is in the anticonvulsant or anti-epileptic drug class. It was developed as an antispasmodic medication and a muscle relaxer. During clinical trials, it was found to help treat epilepsy. In 1993, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved brand-name gabapentin, Neurontin, as an add-on therapy to treat partial seizures.
In 2000, generic gabapentin was approved to treat partial seizures in people over 3. And in 2002, it was approved to treat postherpetic neuralgia (nerve pain from shingles).
Today, it’s also commonly used off-label (for something it’s not FDA-approved for) to treat anxiety, anxiety disorders, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and to ease the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
Gabapentin is sold as a generic medication. It’s also the active ingredient in brand-name medications Neurontin, Gralise, and Horizant (gabapentin enacarbil).
It comes as a tablet, capsule, oral solution, or extended-release tablet.
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 is FDA-approved for the treatment of seizures and neurologic nerve pain in people over 12. It can also be used to help with partial seizures in people over 3.
A licensed provider can prescribe gabapentin for you for other uses as well. If they think you’ll benefit from gabapentin for anxiety or an anxiety disorder, they can prescribe it for you off-label.
To get gabapentin, you need a prescription. You can talk with a trained, licensed healthcare provider, such as a primary care provider (PCP and MD), psychiatrist (MD), psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP), physician’s assistant/associate (PA), or nurse practitioner (NP), to evaluate your symptoms and work with you to determine if a gabapentin prescription is medically necessary for you.
Connect with a compassionate, board-certified provider on Klarity Health who has experience treating anxiety and anxiety disorders with therapy or medications like gabapentin.
Your provider will discuss treatment options with you, which may or may not include medication and/or therapy. If both therapy and medication are recommended, you’ll see a different provider for each service.
If you and your provider determine that gabapentin is the right option for you, your provider can send your prescription to your online or local pharmacy of choice.
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.
If you have side effects from gabapentin, Neurontin, Gralise, or Horizant, you’ll most likely experience dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, diarrhea, sleepiness, and/or swelling in your lower legs or hands.
Less common, but more serious side effects, can include pain, tremors, shortness of breath, an allergic reaction, and hallucinations.
Gabapentin and Neurontin come with a boxed warning for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults.
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including gabapentin, are known to increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Studies have shown that patients taking an AED can have up to twice the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than those not on AEDs.
Gralise, generic extended-release gabapentin, and Horizant can also cause suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
If you take gabapentin in any form and experience thoughts of death, suicide, or self-harm, tell your therapist or psychiatrist right away. And be sure to talk to your provider and/or pharmacist about all potential side effects, drug interactions, and contraindications for gabapentin.
According to drugs.com, with its discount, the cost of 90 tablets or capsules for any dose of generic immediate-release gabapentin is $11 to $22. Neurontin capsules or tablets can cost anywhere from $314 to $1,750 for 100 capsules, depending on the dose and form.
The generic oral 250-milligram/5-milliliter solution costs $60 for a 250-milliliter bottle. The brand-name Neurontin oral solution costs $525 for a 470-milliliter bottle.
The cost of 90 generic extended-release tablets of gabapentin is $824 to $888. Gralise extended-release tablets cost up to $1,017 for 90 tablets with the drugs.com discount. The manufacturer of Gralise, Almatica Pharma, does offer a discount card if you have insurance.
Horizant costs around $550 for a 30-day supply of any dose. GlaxoSmithKline, Horizant’s manufacturer, offers savings cards for people with and without insurance.
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.
Licensed medical professionals on Klarity Health will work with you to create an anxiety treatment plan tailored to you, including medication prescriptions if medically necessary, behavioral counseling or therapy, or skills training.
Use: FDA-approved medication for panic and anxiety disorders
Key ingredient: Alprazolam
Use: FDA-approved for nerve pain and seizures and commonly prescribed off-label for anxiety and anxiety disorders
Key ingredient: Gabapentin
Use: FDA-approved medication for anxiety disorders and for relieving the symptoms of anxiety
Key ingredient: Diazepam
Use: FDA-approved to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder; used off-label use to treat OCD and anxiety
Key ingredient: Bupropion
*Appointments are generally available within 24 hours. Free initial consultations are available only with select providers. Prescriptions, particularly for controlled substances, may require an in-person evaluation depending on the state of residence and current federal regulations.
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Controlled substances like Xanax or Ativan may not be appropriate for all patients and any mention of these medications is for educational purposes only, not for marketing or encouraging self-diagnosis. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy. Nothing in this article is intended to diagnose or treat any condition, including guaranteeing prescription medication of any kind or dosage. Not all providers on Klarity Health prescribe all medications, particularly medications that are controlled substances.
If you’re having a mental health crisis or experiencing a psychiatric emergency, it’s crucial to seek immediate help from a mental healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist. You can also call your local emergency services, visit your nearest emergency room, or contact a crisis hotline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, by calling or texting 988 or dialing the Lifeline’s previous phone number, 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) in the U.S.
PO Box 5098 Redwood City, CA 94063
100 Broadway Street, Redwood City CA, 94063
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PO Box 5098 Redwood City, CA 94063
100 Broadway Street, Redwood City CA, 94063
