Gabapentin is a nerve pain medication and anticonvulsant that has proven to be effective for people who have hard-to-treat depression or other mood disorders. It is imperative to screen, identify, and appropriately manage patients with underlying psychiatric disorders prior to initiating pain management with gabapentin. Therefore, it is crucial to raise awareness of gabapentin as a potential cause of depression, aggressive behavior, and suicidal ideation. Keywords: Chronic low back pain, gabapentin Gabapentin has less likely benefit adjunctively for bipolar disorder. Gabapentin has clearer efficacy for alcohol craving and withdrawal symptoms and may have a role in adjunctive treatment of opioid dependence. There is no clear evidence for gabapentin therapy in depression, PTSD prevention, OCD, or other types of substance abuse. The most common gabapentin (Neurontin) side effects are dizziness and drowsiness. This may affect your ability to drive or perform other activities. Other gabapentin side effects include edema (fluid buildup), weight gain, and eye problems, but these aren’t as common. Rare but serious gabapentin side effects include mood changes in children. Serenity at Summit offers clients two options when it comes to safely and comfortably detoxifying from prescription drugs. We have prescription detox locations in New Jersey and Massachusetts, where we offer a personalized, compassionate approach. In 2019 the FDA issued a warning about the potential risks of respiratory depression in patients taking gabapentin or pregabalin in combination with central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as opioids, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines. Gabapentin can affect mood and may cause depressive symptoms, though this is considered a rare side effect. While it is primarily used to treat seizures and nerve pain, some individuals have reported experiencing feelings of sadness or worsening depression during treatment. A Mayo Clinic research group published a case-control study describing the relationship between preoperative gabapentin exposure and the risk of postoperative respiratory depression in more than Seven studies reported a significant reduction in severity scores for depression, with gabapentin therapy. Four studies reported significant improvement in bipolar severity as measured by BPRS, AIRP and CGI-BP. Sedation was the most common side effect as reported in six studies [19,21,23,26,33,36]. However, relevant research data have not proven success of newer antiepileptics. This article presents the negative side effects of gabapentin such as psychotic and depressive symptoms, which occur shortly after its use. The use of gabapentin in mood disorders is discussed through these side effects. While studies don’t typically show effectiveness for improving symptoms of depression, there is evidence that gabapentin may have some benefit for anxiety disorders. A rat study found that gabapentin produced behavioral changes suggestive of anxiolysis, or feelings of calmness. If you take gabapentin, you or your family should tell the doctor about any unusual changes in your mood, such as agitation, violence, aggression, depression, or talking about wanting to hurt yourself. Depression and suicidal thoughts can also make an unwelcome appearance. It’s as if gabapentin decided to invite the gloomiest rain cloud to your mental picnic. These feelings can range from a persistent low mood to more severe depressive symptoms. In some cases, patients may experience thoughts of self-harm or suicide. 1. Gabapentin may be effective for treating depression and anxiety, among other things. Although gabapentin was traditionally used to treat seizures, it is now sometimes used as a mood stabilizer for depression and bipolar disorder because it calms neurons in the brain, and it may be effective for anxiety too. Gabapentin is primarily an anticonvulsant medication, yet its association with psychiatric side effects, including depression, has garnered attention. While classified as serious but uncommon, reports indicate that depression can be exacerbated in individuals with a history of psychological issues. Gabapentin has clearer efficacy for alcohol craving and withdrawal symptoms and may have a role in adjunctive treatment of opioid dependence. There is no clear evidence for gabapentin therapy in depression, PTSD prevention, OCD, or other types of substance abuse. Gabapentin has less likely benefit adjunctively for bipolar disorder. Gabapentin has clearer efficacy for alcohol craving and withdrawal symptoms and may have a role in adjunctive treatment of opioid dependence. There is no clear evidence for gabapentin therapy in depression, PTSD prevention, OCD, or other types of substance abuse. In 2019, the FDA added a warning and precaution about the possibility of respiratory depression that states: “There is evidence from case reports, human studies, and animal studies associating gabapentin with serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression when coadministered with CNS depressants, including opioids, or in the Evidence does not support the use of gabapentin for bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), stimulant use disorder, or opioid withdrawal. Depression is a serious, yet uncommon, side effect of using gabapentin. It can either cause depression or make existing cases of depression worse. Individuals have a higher risk of developing depression as a side effect if they already have a history of a psychological disorder. Should You Stop Using Gabapentin?
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