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acetaminophen/oxycodone vs gabapentin

Side-by-side comparison of acetaminophen/oxycodone and gabapentin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

Benzodiazepines and Other Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants Due to additive pharmacologic effect, the concomitant use of benzodiazepines and other CNS depressants such as benzodiazepines and other sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), other opioids, including alcohol, can increase the risk of hypotension, respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, and death.

Recommendation: Use these drugs together only if your doctor says it is absolutely necessary. Monitor closely for signs of extreme drowsiness or trouble breathing.

Drug Class
acetaminophen/oxycodone Opioid Analgesic Combination
gabapentin Anticonvulsant / Nerve Pain Agent
Type
acetaminophen/oxycodone Prescription
gabapentin Prescription
Summary
acetaminophen/oxycodone

Percocet is a strong pain medicine. It contains acetaminophen and oxycodone, an opioid.

gabapentin

Gabapentin is a medicine that can treat nerve pain and seizures. It works by calming overactive nerves in the body.

What It Treats
acetaminophen/oxycodone

Percocet is used to manage severe pain. It is for pain that requires an opioid medicine. You should only use Percocet if other pain treatments don't work well enough.

gabapentin

Gabapentin is used to manage nerve pain after shingles in adults. This is called postherpetic neuralgia. It is also used with other medicines to treat partial seizures in adults and children ages 3 and older who have epilepsy.

How It Works
acetaminophen/oxycodone

Oxycodone works in the brain to block pain signals. Acetaminophen also helps to reduce pain and fever. Together, they provide stronger pain relief.

gabapentin

Gabapentin affects how nerves send signals to the brain. It is thought to work by decreasing the activity of overexcited nerve cells. This can reduce pain and prevent seizures.

Common Side Effects
acetaminophen/oxycodone
  • Lightheadedness
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
gabapentin
  • Dizziness
  • Sleepiness
  • Swelling in arms and legs
  • Uncoordinated movements
  • Tiredness
FAERS Reports
acetaminophen/oxycodone
  • Tiredness 34,486
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 29,571
  • Head pain 28,378
  • Aches 28,322
  • Loose stools 23,628
gabapentin
  • Tiredness 24,395
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 21,942
  • Aches and discomfort 20,748
  • Loose or watery stools 17,456
  • Pain in your head 17,287
Serious Warnings
acetaminophen/oxycodone

Percocet has a boxed warning. It can cause addiction, abuse, and misuse, leading to overdose and death. It can also cause life-threatening breathing problems, especially when starting or increasing the dose. Accidental ingestion, even one dose, can cause a fatal overdose, especially in children. Taking Percocet with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants, including alcohol, can cause severe sedation, breathing problems, coma, and death. Using opioids for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage if you take too much.

gabapentin

This medicine can cause a severe allergic reaction with fever, rash, and organ problems. Stop taking gabapentin and get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how gabapentin affects you. Do not stop taking gabapentin suddenly, as this may increase seizures. Gabapentin may cause suicidal thoughts or actions. Watch for changes in mood or behavior. Using gabapentin with opioid medicines can cause very slow breathing, sedation, and death. Children ages 3 to 12 may have new or worsening behavior problems.

Pregnancy
acetaminophen/oxycodone

Taking Percocet for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth. Make sure a newborn specialist is available when you deliver your baby.

gabapentin

Gabapentin may cause harm to an unborn baby based on animal studies. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. Gabapentin passes into breast milk. The effects on a nursing baby are not known.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare acetaminophen/oxycodone with

Compare gabapentin with

How to Read This acetaminophen/oxycodone vs gabapentin Comparison

acetaminophen/oxycodone is classified in the Opioid Analgesic Combination drug class, while gabapentin sits within the Anticonvulsant / Nerve Pain Agent class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, acetaminophen/oxycodone has 144,385 submissions while gabapentin has 101,828. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these drugs slow down the central nervous system. taking them together can cause extreme sleepiness, dangerously slow breathing, coma, or even death.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between acetaminophen/oxycodone and gabapentin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.