Prescription medication · Anticonvulsant / Nerve Pain Agent
gabapentin
Also sold as Neurontin, Gralise. Gabapentin is used to manage nerve pain after shingles in adults.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 351,750
- FDA reportsHeavily reported
- 19
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 97% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- 4
- Recall records
What the data shows
gabapentin (Neurontin) is a prescription Anticonvulsant / Nerve Pain Agent, in the top 5% of tracked drugs by FAERS report volume (351,750 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 97% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
gabapentin (Neurontin) is a prescription Anticonvulsant / Nerve Pain Agent. Gabapentin is used to manage nerve pain after shingles in adults.
Gabapentin is a medicine that can treat nerve pain and seizures. It works by calming overactive nerves in the body.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$2.78/unit
Generic Price
$0.07/unit
Generic Savings
97%
Generic Available
Yes (43 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 25, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: GABAPENTIN 600 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (3 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: 0% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2024 | $0.0865/EA | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.0735/EA | -15% | 51 |
| December 25, 2024 | $0.0735/EA | 0% | 1 |
What it does
Gabapentin is used to manage nerve pain after shingles in adults.
Common side effects
Dizziness, Sleepiness, Swelling in arms and legs
Key warnings
This medicine can cause a severe allergic reaction with fever, rash, and organ problems.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from gabapentin's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Gabapentin affects how nerves send signals to the brain. It is thought to work by decreasing the activity of overexcited nerve cells. This can reduce pain and prevent seizures.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 351,750 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for gabapentin, by number of reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
24,397 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
21,946 reports
- Pain
Pain
20,744 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
17,454 reports
- Headache
Headache
17,287 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
15,976 reports
- Fall
Fall
15,168 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
13,728 reports
- Vomiting
Vomiting
11,709 reports
- Asthenia
Asthenia
11,625 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for gabapentin each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where gabapentin sits
gabapentin has more FDA adverse-event reports than 98% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is gabapentin; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 351,750 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2001–2025.
Total Reports
351,750
Reports Mentioning Death
33,007
9.4% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
103,305
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | FATIGUE | 24,397 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 21,946 |
| 4 | PAIN | 20,744 |
| 6 | DIARRHOEA | 17,454 |
| 7 | HEADACHE | 17,287 |
| 8 | DIZZINESS | 15,976 |
| 9 | FALL | 15,168 |
| 10 | DYSPNOEA | 13,728 |
| 11 | VOMITING | 11,709 |
| 12 | ASTHENIA | 11,625 |
| 13 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 11,358 |
| 14 | ARTHRALGIA | 11,156 |
| 15 | DEATH | 10,701 |
| 16 | MALAISE | 10,514 |
| 17 | PNEUMONIA | 10,063 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This medicine can cause a severe allergic reaction with fever, rash, and organ problems. Stop taking gabapentin and get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how gabapentin affects you. Do not stop taking gabapentin suddenly, as this may increase seizures. Gabapentin may cause suicidal thoughts or actions. Watch for changes in mood or behavior. Using gabapentin with opioid medicines can cause very slow breathing, sedation, and death. Children ages 3 to 12 may have new or worsening behavior problems.
Known Drug Interactions
Benzodiazepines and Other Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants Due to additive pharmacologic effect, the concomitant use of benzodiazepines and other CNS depressants such as benzodiazepines and other sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), other opioids, including alcohol, can increase the risk of hypotension, respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, and death.
Mechanism: Both of these drugs slow down the central nervous system. Taking them together can cause extreme sleepiness, dangerously slow breathing, coma, or even death.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Concentrations increased by morphine; may need dose adjustment (5.4, 7.1 ) 7.1 Opioids Respiratory depression and sedation, sometimes resulting in death, have been reported following coadministration of gabapentin with opioids (e.g., morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, buprenorphine) [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ]. 7.1 Opioids Respiratory depression and sedation, sometimes resulting in death, have been reported following coadministration of gabapentin with opioids (e.g., morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, buprenorphine) [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ].
Mechanism: Both of these medications slow down the central nervous system, which can lead to dangerous breathing problems and extreme sleepiness. Taking them together increases the risk of these life-threatening side effects.
Oral Contraceptive Based on AUC and half-life, multiple-dose pharmacokinetic profiles of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol following administration of tablets containing 2.5 mg of norethindrone acetate and 50 mcg of ethinyl estradiol were similar with and without coadministration of gabapentin (400 mg three times a day; N=13).
Mechanism: Based on clinical studies, gabapentin does not change how the body processes or reacts to birth control hormones like estradiol. There is no significant interaction between these two drugs.
Naproxen Coadministration (N=18) of naproxen sodium capsules (250 mg) with Gabapentin (125 mg) appears to increase the amount of gabapentin absorbed by 12% to 15%. Gabapentin had no effect on naproxen pharmacokinetic parameters.
Mechanism: Taking naproxen can cause the body to absorb a slightly higher amount of gabapentin than it normally would. This could potentially increase the effects or side effects of the gabapentin.
Oral Contraceptive Based on AUC and half-life, multiple-dose pharmacokinetic profiles of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol following administration of tablets containing 2.5 mg of norethindrone acetate and 50 mcg of ethinyl estradiol were similar with and without coadministration of gabapentin (400 mg three times a day; N=13). The C max of norethindrone was 13% higher when it was coadministered with gabapentin; this interaction is not expected to be of clinical importance.
Mechanism: Gabapentin slightly raises the peak level of the birth control hormone in your blood, but the change is very small.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I drive while taking gabapentin?
Can I drink alcohol while taking gabapentin?
What should I do if I have side effects?
Can I stop taking gabapentin suddenly?
Does gabapentin interact with other medicines?
How long does it take for gabapentin to work?
Can children take gabapentin?
Will gabapentin cure my condition?
What if gabapentin doesn't seem to be working?
Can gabapentin cause weight gain?
What are the common side effects of gabapentin?
Does gabapentin interact with other medications?
What drug class is gabapentin?
Is there a generic version of gabapentin?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for gabapentin?
Has gabapentin been recalled?
Active Recalls
Failed Impurities/Degradation Specifications: an out of specification result obtained during routine stability testing for Highest Unknown Impurity .
The Harvard Drug Group LLC
Defective container; blister packaging inadequately sealed.
The Harvard Drug Group LLC
CGMP Deviations
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA
Cross Contamination
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC
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Other drugs grouped near gabapentin - same-class peers and common alternatives.
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cannabidiol
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carbamazepine
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Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for gabapentin: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 351,750.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 9.38%.
- baricitinib Δ 0.03 pts · 9,259 reports · JAK Inhibitor 9.35%death share
- famotidine Δ 0.03 pts · 110,018 reports · H2 Receptor Antagonist 9.35%death share
- telmisartan Δ 0.04 pts · 33,611 reports · Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) 9.42%death share
- dutasteride Δ 0.04 pts · 20,677 reports · 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor 9.43%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for gabapentin
The FDA label for gabapentin (sold under brand names such as Neurontin, Gralise) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Anticonvulsant / Nerve Pain Agent class. Gabapentin is used to manage nerve pain after shingles in adults. Official labeling lists 11 commonly reported side effects, including Dizziness, Sleepiness, Swelling in arms and legs.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 351,750 voluntary reports. The database also lists 19 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.07 versus $2.78 for the brand - a 97% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 4 recall records on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: April 2, 2024
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages