Two medicines, side by side
Gabapentin vs oxcarbazepine
Gabapentin and oxcarbazepine are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy. Drugs@FDA records approvals of gabapentin since 1993 and of oxcarbazepine since 2000. Pharmacies paid $0.0218 per gabapentin 100 mg capsule and $0.167 per oxcarbazepine 300 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Gabapentin, “The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown.”; Oxcarbazepine, “The pharmacological activity of TRILEPTAL is primarily exerted through the 10-monohydroxy metabolite (MHD) of oxcarbazepine [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].”
Check it at the source: the gabapentin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the oxcarbazepine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 16, 2025).
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
Highlights of the oxcarbazepine record
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) · label of December 16, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTRILEPTAL is indicated for use as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults and as monotherapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in pediatric patients aged 4 years and above, and as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients aged 2 years and above with partial-onset seizures. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 14, 2000
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.167 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Gabapentin label of May 12, 2026, Oxcarbazepine label of December 16, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do gabapentin and oxcarbazepine differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Gabapentin, “The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown.”; Oxcarbazepine, “The pharmacological activity of TRILEPTAL is primarily exerted through the 10-monohydroxy metabolite (MHD) of oxcarbazepine [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].”
Both are in FDA's class anti-epileptic agents.
Half-life, in each label's words: Gabapentin, “Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing.”; Oxcarbazepine, “The half-life of the parent is about 2 hours, while the half-life of MHD is about 9 hours, so that MHD is responsible …”
Generics: gabapentin since 2003; oxcarbazepine since 2007 (Drugs@FDA).
| Gabapentin | Oxcarbazepine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Seizures and epilepsy | Seizures and epilepsy |
| Pharmacologic class | Anti-epileptic Agent | Anti-epileptic Agent |
| How it works (label) | The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown. | The pharmacological activity of TRILEPTAL is primarily exerted through the 10-monohydroxy metabolite (MHD) of oxcarbazepine [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. |
| Half-life (label) | Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing. | The half-life of the parent is about 2 hours, while the half-life of MHD is about 9 hours, so that MHD is responsible for most antiepileptic activity. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 30, 1993 | January 14, 2000 |
| First generic approved | September 12, 2003 | October 9, 2007 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 85 labelers | 43 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0218 per capsule (Gabapentin 100 mg capsule) | $0.167 per tablet (Oxcarbazepine 300 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +0.9% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 22 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 362,654 | 31,342 |
| 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 next?
- Alternatives to gabapentin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions