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. Gabapentin isn’t usually used to treat anxiety alone. More often, it’s given to ease anxiety symptoms for someone who also has depression or bipolar disorder. (Anxiety is commonly Similar to other anticonvulsant medicines, gabapentin may increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts, particularly in young adults under the age of 24. Gabapentin has been associated with a discontinuation syndrome when abruptly stopped. Symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, nausea, pain, and sweating. There is no clear evidence for gabapentin therapy in depression, PTSD prevention, OCD, or other types of substance abuse. Limitations of available data include variation in dosing between studies, gabapentin as monotherapy or adjunctive treatment, and differing primary outcomes between trials. 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. 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. Another narrative review 51 regarding anticonvulsants in depression treatment concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support gabapentin’s use in depression. Epilepsy patients are at increased risk for depression, most likely due to both psychosocial and neurologic factors. 52 Harden et al 53 randomized 40 epilepsy patients to Doctors may prescribe gabapentin to treat various health conditions, including mental health conditions. First discovered in the 1970s, doctors originally prescribed gabapentin as a muscle relaxer Respiratory issues or those taking medications that depress the central nervous system, as these drugs can exacerbate the risk of respiratory depression. Risk of Misuse and Withdrawal. Gabapentin and pregabalin also carry certain risks, particularly when used inappropriately or without proper medical supervision. While gabapentin is sometimes used in an attempt to treat mood disorders like depression, there is no clear evidence backed by high-quality studies that supports its effectiveness in this regard. Some reports suggest that gabapentin can exacerbate mood issues and has been linked to depressive symptoms, highlighting a complex relationship This is true for all gabapentin products, which can cause withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, agitation, and nausea or vomiting. More seriously, stopping treatment with gabapentin abruptly can lead to seizures. If you want to stop taking gabapentin, don’t make any changes without talking to your prescriber. Hi everyone- recently I’ve been taking 400mg pill of gabapentin in the morning and I’m really starting to see some light in life again. Does this mean I have depression.. when I’m not on gabapentin, my life feels dull, I don’t enjoy anything etc. Could this be signs I should stay on gabapentin? The benefits are insane!! Gabapentin (Neurontin) is FDA approved to treat seizure disorder and nerve pain from shingles. But it’s also used off-label to treat many other conditions, including anxiety, nerve pain from diabetes, and hot flashes. Gabapentin may be effective for anxiety, but it’s usually not a first-choice medication for this use. 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. Therapy is widely delivered to treat anxiety and depression for those prescribed gabapentin, and it’s highly effective. Although there are many types of depression and anxiety therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is particularly effective. It was originally created as an anticonvulsant used to treat epilepsy though for some people who anxiety, it may be an effective treatment. Doctors that prescribe Neurontin for anxiety often only do so if the patient has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Gabapentin can also be prescribed off-label, for uses that are not approved by the FDA, including in the treatment of bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, treatment resistant depression, alcohol withdrawal, insomnia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and migraines . Gabapentin is widely prescribed off label in medical practice, including psychiatry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned of risks associated with gabapentin combined with central nervous system depressant (CNS-D) drugs, which are commonly prescribed in psychiatric treatment.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |