"Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant medication that is FDA approved for the treatment of seizure disorders and postherpetic neuralgia-a chronic, often debilitating, nerve pain syndrome often linked to shingles. It is classified as an anticonvulsant and a GABA analogue, meaning it mimics the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which normally reduces nerve excitability."
"Gabapentin works by calming overactive nerve activity in the brain and nervous system, primarily through interactions with calcium channels. However, it is also frequently prescribed off label for a variety of chronic pain conditions and generally viewed as a safer alternative to opioids."
"A September 2025 report by CDC researchers in Annals of Internal Medicine documented gabapentin's rapid rise in the U.S. Prescriptions for gabapentin per 1,000 people more than doubled from 2010 to 2024, while the number of Americans taking this medication nearly tripled-from 5.8 million to 15.5 million."
Gabapentin is an FDA-approved anticonvulsant medication for seizure disorders and postherpetic neuralgia that works by calming overactive nerve activity through calcium channel interactions. It mimics GABA, a neurotransmitter that reduces nerve excitability. Though approved for specific conditions, gabapentin is frequently prescribed off-label for various chronic pain conditions and widely viewed as a safer alternative to opioids. Prescriptions have increased dramatically over 15 years, coinciding with heightened awareness of the opioid epidemic. CDC research shows gabapentin prescriptions per 1,000 people more than doubled from 2010 to 2024, with the number of Americans taking it nearly tripling from 5.8 million to 15.5 million. In 2024, gabapentin became the fifth most dispensed drug in U.S. retail pharmacies. Recent concerning findings suggest potential risks associated with gabapentin use.
Read at Psychology Today
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