Two medicines, side by side
Clonazepam vs gabapentin
Clonazepam and gabapentin are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clonazepam since 1975 and of gabapentin since 1993. Pharmacies paid $0.0244 per clonazepam 1 mg tablet and $0.0218 per gabapentin 100 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, clonazepam is a benzodiazepine and gabapentin an anti-epileptic agent.
Check it at the source: the clonazepam FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 1, 2025); the gabapentin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026).
Highlights of the clonazepam record
Clonazepam (Klonopin) · label of December 1, 2025
RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH OPIOIDS; ABUSE, MISUSE, AND ADDICTION; and DEPENDENCE AND WITHDRAWAL REACTIONS Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required.
Used for
From the label: indicationsSeizure Disorders Klonopin is useful alone or as an adjunct in the treatment of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (petit mal variant), akinetic, and myoclonic seizures. In patients with absence seizures (petit mal) who have failed to respond to succinimides, Klonopin may be useful. Some loss of effect may occur during the course of clonazepam treatment (see PRECAUTIONS: Loss of Effect ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 4, 1975
- Generic labelers
- 31 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0244 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 7
Highlights of the gabapentin record
Gabapentin (Neurontin) · label of May 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsNEURONTIN ® is indicated for: • Management of postherpetic neuralgia in adults • Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, with and without secondary generalization, in adults and pediatric patients 3 years and older with epilepsy NEURONTIN is indicated for: • Postherpetic neuralgia in adults ( 1 ) • Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, with and without secondary generalization, in adults and pediatric patients 3 years and older with epilepsy […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 30, 1993
- Generic labelers
- 85 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0218 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 22
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clonazepam label of December 1, 2025, Gabapentin label of May 12, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clonazepam and gabapentin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, clonazepam is a benzodiazepine and gabapentin an anti-epileptic agent.
Half-life, in each label's words: Clonazepam, “The elimination half-life of clonazepam is typically 30 to 40 hours.”; Gabapentin, “Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing.”
Only the clonazepam label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: clonazepam since 1996; gabapentin since 2003 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: clonazepam CIV; gabapentin none.
| Clonazepam | Gabapentin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Seizures and epilepsy, Anxiety | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Seizures and epilepsy |
| Pharmacologic class | Benzodiazepine | Anti-epileptic Agent |
| How it works (label) | n/a | The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown. |
| Half-life (label) | The elimination half-life of clonazepam is typically 30 to 40 hours. | Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 4, 1975 | December 30, 1993 |
| First generic approved | September 10, 1996 | September 12, 2003 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 31 labelers | 85 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0244 per tablet (Clonazepam 1 mg tablet) | $0.0218 per capsule (Gabapentin 100 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -14% | +0.9% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | In shortage | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 7 | 22 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 159,283 | 362,654 |
| DEA schedule | CIV | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to clonazepam
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions