Is Gabapentin Addictive?

Gabapentin is not considered highly addictive for most people who take it as prescribed, but it is not risk-free. It can be misused, especially by people who also use opioids or alcohol, and people who take it every day can become physically dependent and have withdrawal if they stop suddenly. That mix of low reputation and real risk is why the question matters.

The Short Answer

Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) is an anticonvulsant used for certain seizures, nerve pain after shingles and, in one extended-release form, restless legs syndrome. The FDA label for Neurontin says gabapentin is not a federally controlled substance. The same label also says misuse and abuse have been reported, and that withdrawal symptoms have been seen after both short-term and long-term use.

So it helps to separate three ideas:

• Misuse means taking it in a way that was not prescribed, such as extra doses or using it to feel high.
• Physical dependence means the body has adjusted to the drug and reacts when it is stopped. This can happen even when someone takes it exactly as directed.
• Addiction means compulsive use, loss of control and continuing despite harm.

Gabapentin can be involved in all three, though the first two are far more common than the third in people taking it only for a medical condition.

What the FDA Label Says About Abuse and Dependence

The Neurontin prescribing information has a full section on abuse and dependence. In plain terms, it says:

• Misuse and abuse have been reported after the drug went on the market and in published research.
• Most people in those reports had a history of using several substances, and some took doses higher than recommended for unapproved reasons.
• Prescribers should ask about past drug use and watch for warning signs such as raising the dose on one's own or drug-seeking behavior.
• Withdrawal symptoms usually start within about 48 hours of stopping and can include agitation, insomnia, sweating, depression, suicidal thoughts and, in some cases, seizures.

The label is also honest about what is not known. It notes that gabapentin's abuse and dependence potential has not been formally studied in humans. That gap is part of why opinions on gabapentin have shifted over time.

Who Is Most at Risk

A systematic review in the journal Addiction found that gabapentin misuse appears to be uncommon in the general population, but much more common among people who misuse opioids. Among people in opioid treatment who had a gabapentin prescription, a large share reported taking more than prescribed. In those settings, people often use it to strengthen the effect of opioids or ease opioid withdrawal.

Your risk is higher if you:

• Have a current or past problem with opioids, alcohol or other drugs
• Take gabapentin alongside sleeping pills, anti-anxiety drugs or muscle relaxers
• Use it for stress, sleep or to "take the edge off" rather than for the condition it was prescribed for
• Get pills from friends, family or without a prescription
• Take it at high doses for a long time

If several of these sound familiar, our guide to gabapentin addiction and treatment covers warning signs and next steps in more depth.

Why Some States Treat It as a Controlled Substance

Although the federal government does not schedule gabapentin, some states do. Kentucky, for example, lists gabapentin as a Schedule V controlled substance in its state regulations, and Tennessee and Montana have done the same. A Tennessee summary for prescribers explained the reasoning: gabapentin is often used to boost the effects of opioids, which raises the risk of a fatal overdose, and misuse had been rising alongside prescribing.

In states that schedule it, gabapentin prescriptions are typically reported to the state prescription monitoring database and follow refill limits like other controlled drugs. Rules vary, so ask your pharmacist how it is handled where you live. If you are in one of these states and looking for help, you can start with sedative rehab in Kentucky or sedative rehab in Tennessee.

The Real Danger: Combining Gabapentin With Other Drugs

Gabapentin on its own is rarely the main threat. The biggest risk comes from mixing it with other drugs that slow the brain and breathing. The FDA warned that gabapentin and pregabalin can cause serious breathing problems when taken with opioids or other central nervous system depressants such as benzodiazepines, and in people with lung conditions like COPD or in older adults. The FDA also noted that misuse of these drugs together with opioids has been increasing.

Alcohol adds to gabapentin's drowsiness too. Warning signs of a dangerous reaction include:

• Confusion or unusual dizziness
• Extreme sleepiness or being hard to wake
• Slow, shallow or difficult breathing
• Bluish lips or skin

If you see these signs, call 911 right away.

Signs Gabapentin Use Has Become a Problem

Because gabapentin is so widely prescribed, misuse can hide in plain sight. Watch for:

• Running out early or taking extra doses "just today"
• Asking for higher doses or seeing more than one prescriber
• Seeming slurred, unsteady or unusually drowsy
• Using it with opioids, alcohol or sleeping pills
• Feeling anxious, sweaty or sick when a dose is late
• New mood changes, including depression or agitation

Like other seizure medicines, gabapentin carries a warning about suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you love is thinking about self-harm, call or text 988.

Can You Stop Gabapentin Safely?

Yes, with your prescriber's help. Do not stop gabapentin abruptly after long-term or high-dose use. The FDA label says that when gabapentin is stopped or the dose is lowered, it should be done gradually over at least one week. People who have taken it for a long time often need a slower plan, and people with epilepsy face added risk because stopping quickly can trigger seizures.

Your prescriber sets the schedule. Never change your dose on your own. Our gabapentin taper chart explains how doctors usually approach this in general terms.

What Treatment Looks Like

There is no medication approved specifically for gabapentin misuse. NIDA's guidance on prescription sedative-type drugs applies: people who are dependent should not try to quit alone, a medically supervised taper is safer, and counseling should follow. When more than one substance is involved, all of them should be treated at the same time.

• Medical detox tapers the dose while a team watches for seizures and severe symptoms. Many sedative and sleeping pill detox programs handle gabapentin.
• Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, helps with cravings, stress and the habits around pill use.
• Pain and mental health care matters because many people started gabapentin for nerve pain, anxiety or sleep.

If you also take pregabalin, see Is Lyrica addictive?, since the two drugs are closely related.

Getting Help

Our national sedative and sleeping pill rehab directory lists programs that treat gabapentin along with other prescription drugs. You can browse by city, such as Louisville or detox in Nashville, or start from the states page. To check what your plan may pay for, see our insurance guides, and browse more answers in our guides.

Sources

• Neurontin (gabapentin) Prescribing Information (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
• Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant (gabapentin) and Lyrica, Lyrica CR (pregabalin): Drug Safety Communication - Serious Breathing Problems (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
• Gabapentin (MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine)
• Gabapentin Misuse, Abuse and Diversion: A Systematic Review (Addiction, via PubMed Central, National Library of Medicine)
• 902 KAR 55:015 Schedules of Controlled Substances (Kentucky Legislature)
• Prescribing Gabapentin in Tennessee: A Schedule V Drug (University of Tennessee Health Science Center)
• Gabapentin Schedule V Controlled Substance: Fact Sheet for Prescribers and Patients (Montana Board of Pharmacy)
• How Can Prescription Drug Addiction Be Treated? (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Related guides

• Adderall Addiction: Signs, Risks and Treatment Options
• Ambien Addiction: Signs, Risks and Treatment Options
• Lunesta and Sonata Addiction: Risks and Treatment
• Gabapentin Addiction: Misuse, Risks and Treatment Options
• Lyrica (Pregabalin) Addiction: Risks and Treatment Options
• Soma and Muscle Relaxer Addiction: Risks and Treatment

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