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? Does Gabapentin Help with Anxiety? Some research suggests that Gabapentin can effectively alleviate anxiety symptoms in some people. That said, the efficacy of this prescription medication can vary from person to person. While gabapentin is increasingly being used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), little is known about its effectiveness on GAD symptoms. The patient presented here has a relatively straightforward psychiatric history, with GAD playing a prominent role. Although evidence is limited, some studies show gabapentin can help with anxiety symptoms. One 2020 review suggests gabapentin may help with different types of situational anxiety, Gabapentin may be effective for anxiety, but it’s usually not a first-choice medication for this use. Other medications have been studied more for anxiety, and they’re typically tried first. The recommended gabapentin dosage for anxiety and other conditions can range from 300 mg to 3,600 mg per day. 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. Both gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) were originally marketed in the United States by Pfizer, Inc. Gabapentin is now available as a generic product, with a retail pharmacy cost of $0.24 per 300-mg capsule in the United States. Pregabalin remains under patent protection until December 2018, with a cost of $6.29 per 100-mg capsule. 17 Recent research indicates that gabapentin has proven to be an effective treatment for anxiety sufferers. Nevertheless, there are few case reports and no randomized controlled trials regarding this medication’s efficacy in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Anxiety In Children. When anxiety symptoms are reported with gabapentin, they are more strongly associated with children rather than adults. There is a strong warning of 'neuropsychiatric adverse events ' in children described in the prescribing information for Neurontin, the brand name for gabapentin: The types of anxiety disorder that may respond to gabapentin include: Social anxiety; Seasonal affective disorder; Specific phobia; Pre-operative anxiety; Gabapentin Dosage for Anxiety. In a similar way as antidepressants, gabapentin takes about four weeks to begin reducing the symptoms of anxiety. A third study found that gabapentin may help with anxiety related to public speaking . There are also several trials of gabapentin showing efficacy in perioperative anxiety . Gabapentin has similar adverse effects as pregabalin including sedation, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, and pedal edema. I’ve struggled with anxiety for over 7 years. Tried many SSRI’s and SNRI’s and buspar. Minimal help. Supplemented with klonopin (posted this recently as a topic). I just started using 300 mg gabapentin (100 mg in morning and 200 mg) in evening). Seems to be helping. Anyone else using it? Advantages of Using Gabapentin for Anxiety. There may be some advantages associated with using Gabapentin for anxiety over other medications. The most notable advantage is that Gabapentin has a different mechanism of action compared to standard first-line treatments of anxiety such as serotonergic antidepressants. While it is not a first-line treatment, some individuals may find gabapentin helpful in alleviating anxiety symptoms. If you’re considering gabapentin as treatment for anxiety, online psychiatry platforms such as Talkiatry and Brightside Health can connect you with a provider quickly. Keep reading to explore the effects of Gabapentin for anxiety. What is Gabapentin? Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug that is primarily used to treat seizures and the pain that follows after an episode of shingles. Gabapentin is considered an off-brand drug used to treat anxiety. Neurontin is the most common brand name for Gabapentin, as well Gabapentin can play a significant role in alleviating anxiety symptoms for many patients, making it an intriguing option when looking at treatments. It works by affecting certain neurotransmitters in the brain, promoting a calming effect that can help mitigate feelings of anxiety.
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