What is Gabapentin Approved for?

by

Gabapentin is available as both a brand name product and a generic product (chemically the same, usually lower cost than the brand name product). Brand names of gabapentin include Horizant®, Gralise® and Neurontin®.

What is gabapentin approved for?

Gabapentin is used to:

  • Prevent and control partial seizures. Gabapentin can be used in adults and children age 3 and older who have partial seizures.
  • Relieve nerve pain following shingles in adults. Shingles is a painful rash that develops many years after you’ve had chickenpox. The virus that causes chickenpox stays dormant in a portion of your spinal nerve root called the dorsal root ganglion. For whatever reason, this otherwise dormant virus gets reactivated — usually by stress — causing a shingles rash. Nerve pain following a case of shingles is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
  • Treat moderate-too-severe primary restless legs syndrome.

The branded gabapentin products Neurontin and Gralise are approved for partial seizures and PHN. The branded gabapentin enacarbil product Horizant is approved for restless legs syndrome and PHN.

Why Is Gabapentin Prescribed ?

Gabapentin is prescribed for several medical conditions, primarily related to nerve pain and neurological disorders. Here are the main reasons a doctor might prescribe gabapentin:

1. Neuropathic Pain

  • Postherpetic Neuralgia – Pain following shingles (herpes zoster).
  • Diabetic Neuropathy – Nerve pain from diabetes.
  • Fibromyalgia – Off-label use for chronic pain and tenderness.
  • Sciatica & Nerve Damage – Helps with pain caused by nerve compression or injury.

2. Seizure Disorders

  • Used as an adjunct treatment for epilepsy, especially for partial seizures.

3. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) (Off-label use or with FDA-approved gabapentin enacarbil)

  • Helps reduce leg discomfort and urge to move, especially at night.

4. Migraine Prevention (Off-label use)

  • Some doctors prescribe it to help prevent migraines, though it’s not FDA-approved for this.

5. Anxiety Disorders (Off-label use)

  • May be used for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder, especially in people who don’t respond well to other medications.

6. Alcohol & Drug Withdrawal (Off-label use)

  • Sometimes prescribed to help with withdrawal symptoms from alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines.

Leave a Comment