Two medicines, side by side
Lacosamide vs gabapentin
Lacosamide and gabapentin are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy. Drugs@FDA records approvals of lacosamide since 2008 and of gabapentin since 1993. Pharmacies paid $0.174 per lacosamide 100 mg tablet and $0.0218 per gabapentin 100 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the lacosamide FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026); the gabapentin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026).
Highlights of the lacosamide record
Lacosamide (Vimpat) · label of May 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsVIMPAT is indicated for: Treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older ( 1.1 ) Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 4 years of age and older ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Partial-Onset Seizures VIMPAT is indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older. 1.2 Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures VIMPAT is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 4 years of age and older. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 28, 2008
- Generic labelers
- 57 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.174 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 8
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 (Lacosamide label of May 12, 2026, Gabapentin label of May 12, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do lacosamide and gabapentin differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Lacosamide, “The precise mechanism by which VIMPAT exerts its antiepileptic effects in humans remains to be fully elucidated.”; Gabapentin, “The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Lacosamide, “The maximum lacosamide plasma concentrations occur approximately 1-to-4-hour post-dose after oral dosing, and …”; Gabapentin, “Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing.”
Generics: lacosamide since 2022; gabapentin since 2003 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: lacosamide CV; gabapentin none.
| Lacosamide | Gabapentin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Seizures and epilepsy | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Seizures and epilepsy |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Anti-epileptic Agent |
| How it works (label) | The precise mechanism by which VIMPAT exerts its antiepileptic effects in humans remains to be fully elucidated. | The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown. |
| Half-life (label) | The maximum lacosamide plasma concentrations occur approximately 1-to-4-hour post-dose after oral dosing, and elimination half-life is approximately 13 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) | October 28, 2008 | December 30, 1993 |
| First generic approved | March 17, 2022 | September 12, 2003 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 57 labelers | 85 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.174 per tablet (Lacosamide 100 mg tablet) | $0.0218 per capsule (Gabapentin 100 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -15% | +0.9% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 8 | 22 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 36,995 | 362,654 |
| DEA schedule | CV | 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 lacosamide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions