Two medicines, side by side
Cyclobenzaprine vs gabapentin
Cyclobenzaprine and gabapentin are both labeled for nerve pain and fibromyalgia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cyclobenzaprine since 1977 and of gabapentin since 1993. Pharmacies paid $0.0171 per cyclobenzaprine 10 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. Cyclobenzaprine's other strengths are brand-only: $29.61 per tablet (Tonmya 2.8 mg tablet sl). In FDA's classes, cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant and gabapentin an anti-epileptic agent.
Check it at the source: the cyclobenzaprine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 21, 2025); the gabapentin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026).
Highlights of the cyclobenzaprine record
Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) · label of February 21, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsCyclobenzaprine hydrochloride tablets, USP are indicated as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy for relief of muscle spasm associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions. Improvement is manifested by relief of muscle spasm and its associated signs and symptoms, namely, pain, tenderness, limitation of motion, and restriction in activities of daily living. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 26, 1977
- Generic labelers
- 59 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0171 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
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 (Cyclobenzaprine label of February 21, 2025, Gabapentin label of May 12, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cyclobenzaprine and gabapentin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant and gabapentin an anti-epileptic agent.
Half-life, in each label's words: Cyclobenzaprine, “Cyclobenzaprine is eliminated quite slowly, with an effective half-life of 18 hours (range 8 to 37 hours; n=18); …”; Gabapentin, “Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing.”
Generics: cyclobenzaprine since 1988; gabapentin since 2003 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cyclobenzaprine | Gabapentin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Muscle spasms and spasticity, Nerve pain and fibromyalgia | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Seizures and epilepsy |
| Pharmacologic class | Muscle Relaxant | 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) | Cyclobenzaprine is eliminated quite slowly, with an effective half-life of 18 hours (range 8 to 37 hours; n=18); plasma clearance is 0.7 L/min. | Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 26, 1977 | December 30, 1993 |
| First generic approved | February 29, 1988 | September 12, 2003 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 59 labelers | 85 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0171 per tablet (Cyclobenzaprine 10 mg tablet) | $0.0218 per capsule (Gabapentin 100 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | +0.9% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 22 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 50,442 | 362,654 |
| DEA schedule | none | 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 do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Cyclobenzaprine label, warningsIf concomitant treatment with cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride and other serotonergic drugs is clinically warranted, careful observation is advised, particularly during treatment initiation or dose increases (see PRECAUTIONS :
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to cyclobenzaprine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions