Gabapentin has been approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for postherpetic neuralgia and as adjunctive therapy for focal seizures. 1 However, a recent analysis of US physician office-based prescription practices between 2011 and 2016 found that less than one percent of gabapentin prescriptions are for such indications. 2 In 2020, gabapentin was reported to be Multiple RCTs have shown gabapentin to be ineffective for bipolar disorder. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of gabapentin for MDD, GAD, PTSD, or OCD. There is sufficient evidence to consider the use of gabapentin for social anxiety disorder and, potentially, severe panic disorder after other treatment options have failed. Preclinical data suggest the potential anxiolytic effect of gabapentin ().Recently, Beauclair et al. reported reduction in anxiety symptoms and syndromes in 18 patients with primary psychotic disorders and in one patient with generalized anxiety disorder treated adjunctively with gabapentin, 200–1800 mg/day. One medication that is being used off-label for anxiety is called gabapentin. Here we’ll look at the use of gabapentin for anxiety, and explore the pros and cons of this protocol. What is Gabapentin? Gabapentin belongs to the group of drugs called anticonvulsants, sold under the brand name Neurontin to treat chronic nerve pain. The present pattern of results suggests that glutamatergic medications such as gabapentin and memantine adjuvant to a standard treatment with an SSRI have no additional positive impact on patients with OCD, as measured with the Y-BOCS. Additionally, side-effects were reported. Future studies should Objective: This article reviews evidence-based psychiatric uses of gabapentin, along with associated risks. Method of Research: An extensive literature review was conducted, primarily of articles searchable in PubMed, relating to psychiatric uses, safety, and adverse effects of gabapentin. Results: Evidence supports gabapentin as a treatment for alcohol withdrawal and alcohol use disorder Gabapentin, while slower, may still be effective for individuals with specific anxiety profiles, such as social anxiety. It may also be a better option for individuals who have both anxiety and chronic pain or those seeking a medication with a lower risk of misuse. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Only 1 study has evaluated gabapentin use for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Onder et al 68 studied fluoxetine monotherapy versus fluoxetine with adjunctive gabapentin in controlling OCD symptoms. Forty patients were randomized (open-label) to fluoxetine 20 mg/d or fluoxetine 20 mg/d with gabapentin 600 mg/d. A small randomized, controlled trial suggested that adjunctive gabapentin accelerates therapeutic response to fluoxetine in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. 32 In a randomized, controlled trial of 420 breast cancer survivors with nonspecific anxiety symptoms, 8 weeks of treatment with gabapentin 300 mg produced significant Conflicting evidence suggests that gabapentin’s use in psychiatry has decreased over time, despite renewed interest in its potential for alcohol use disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (9–12). The pharmacological evidence cited for gabapentin’s use in various psychiatric disorders is Gabapentin and pregabalin both have RCTs showing efficacy over placebo for social anxiety disorder; however, it should be noted that improvement was associated with higher doses than are often tolerated (e.g., >2,100 mg daily for gabapentin and 600 mg total daily for pregabalin) (113–115). Abstract. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders and a leading cause of disability. While there continues to be expansive research in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and schizophrenia, there is a relative dearth of novel medications under investigation for anxiety disorders. Gabapentin can also cause mood fluctuations, and increased depression and anxiety, which can worsen OCD symptoms in some people. Withdrawing from gabapentin can also trigger mood disorders, moodiness, and other mental health conditions, like anxiety and suicidal ideation (thoughts and attempts). A clear pattern of remission or mild anxiety on total daily doses of gabapentin ≥ 900 mg/day and severe anxiety at doses < 600 mg/day was observed. In the absence of randomized controlled trials, these findings may offer clinically important clues about dosing and effectiveness of gabapentin in GAD. Several studies have explored the use of gabapentin in OCD, with mixed but promising results. One of the potential mechanisms by which gabapentin may help alleviate OCD symptoms is through its anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects. Whether you’re already taking gabapentin for an anxiety disorder or are curious if you might benefit from it, you may be wondering how effective it is, how it works, and if there are side effects. Here we’ll cover everything you need to know about gabapentin for anxiety. What is Gabapentin? Gabapentin is an off-label medication that may help with some types of situational anxiety, but not generalized anxiety disorder. Learn how gabapentin works, what side effects and risks it may have, and how it compares to Xanax. To date, no studies exist for gabapentin efficacy in generalized anxiety disorder. There is limited evidence to suggest the use of gabapentin in depression, PTSD, and OCD. Multiple studies suggest gabapentin has some efficacy in alcohol dependence, withdrawal, and craving. People have found that Gabapentin can help with anxiety and similar problems, even though it’s not officially for that. Seemingly, it works well for things like feeling very worried or scared, especially if someone has Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), social anxiety, or fear of speaking in public. Objective The aim of this study was to compare efficacy of fluoxetine alone and co-administration of gabapentin and fluoxetine in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods Forty outpatients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of OCD were randomized to open label treatment, 20 of whom were treated with fluoxetine alone and the remaining 20 with fluoxetine plus gabapentin during 8 weeks
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | ![]() |