Two medicines, side by side
Gabapentin vs pregabalin
Gabapentin and pregabalin are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy and nerve pain and fibromyalgia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of gabapentin since 1993 and of pregabalin since 2004. Pharmacies paid $0.0218 per gabapentin 100 mg capsule and $0.0571 per pregabalin 100 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the gabapentin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the pregabalin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 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 pregabalin record
Pregabalin (Lyrica) · label of April 15, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsLYRICA is indicated for: • Management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy • Management of postherpetic neuralgia • Adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial‑onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older • Management of fibromyalgia • Management of neuropathic pain associated with spinal cord injury LYRICA is indicated for: • Neuropathic pain associated with diabetic […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 30, 2004
- Generic labelers
- 52 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0571 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Gabapentin label of May 12, 2026, Pregabalin label of April 15, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do gabapentin and pregabalin 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.”; Pregabalin, “LYRICA (pregabalin) binds with high affinity to the alpha 2 -delta site (an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels) in central nervous system tissues.”
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.”; Pregabalin, “12.3 Pharmacokinetics Pregabalin is well absorbed after oral administration, is eliminated largely by renal excretion …”
Generics: gabapentin since 2003; pregabalin since 2019 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: gabapentin none; pregabalin CV.
| Gabapentin | Pregabalin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Seizures and epilepsy | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Seizures and epilepsy |
| Pharmacologic class | Anti-epileptic Agent | n/a |
| How it works (label) | The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown. | LYRICA (pregabalin) binds with high affinity to the alpha 2 -delta site (an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels) in central nervous system tissues. |
| Half-life (label) | Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing. | 12.3 Pharmacokinetics Pregabalin is well absorbed after oral administration, is eliminated largely by renal excretion, and has an elimination half-life of about 6 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 30, 1993 | December 30, 2004 |
| First generic approved | September 12, 2003 | July 19, 2019 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 85 labelers | 52 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0218 per capsule (Gabapentin 100 mg capsule) | $0.0571 per capsule (Pregabalin 100 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | +0.9% | -15% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 22 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 362,654 | 270,624 |
| DEA schedule | none | CV |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Pregabalin label, drug interactionsNo pharmacokinetic interactions were observed between LYRICA and carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, oral contraceptive, phenobarbital, phenytoin, topiramate, and valproic acid.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to gabapentin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions