What are the side effects of gabapentin (Neurontin)?

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Last updated: April 27, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

Gabardine is not a medication, and as a textile material, it does not have side effects in the medical sense. Gabardine is a tightly woven fabric typically made from wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers, commonly used in clothing items like suits, trousers, overcoats, and uniforms due to its durability and water-resistant properties. The diagonal weave pattern gives gabardine its characteristic appearance and strength. Some individuals might experience skin irritation if they have specific textile allergies or sensitivities to the fibers used in gabardine, particularly wool varieties, but this would be considered a personal sensitivity rather than a side effect of the material itself. If you're experiencing skin irritation when wearing gabardine clothing, you might consider fabrics made from different materials or consult with a dermatologist if the irritation is severe or persistent. It's essential to note that the provided evidence 1 discusses various medications and their side effects, but none of these studies mention gabardine as a medication or discuss its side effects, reinforcing the fact that gabardine is not a pharmaceutical agent.

From the FDA Drug Label

Gabapentin tablets can cause serious side effects including:

  1. Suicidal Thoughts.
  2. Changes in behavior and thinking - Using gabapentin tablets in children 3 to 12 years of age can cause emotional changes, aggressive behavior, problems with concentration, restlessness, changes in school performance, and hyperactivity.
  3. Gabapentin tablets may cause serious or life-threatening allergic reactions that may affect your skin or other parts of your body such as your liver or blood cells. The most common side effects of gabapentin tablets include:
  • lack of coordination
  • viral infection
  • feeling drowsy
  • nausea and vomiting
  • difficulty with speaking
  • tremor
  • swelling, usually of legs and feet
  • feeling tired
  • fever
  • jerky movements
  • difficulty with coordination
  • double vision
  • unusual eye movement

The side effects of gabapentin include suicidal thoughts, changes in behavior and thinking, and allergic reactions. Common side effects are lack of coordination, viral infection, feeling drowsy, nausea and vomiting, difficulty with speaking, tremor, swelling, feeling tired, fever, jerky movements, difficulty with coordination, double vision, and unusual eye movement 2.

From the Research

Side Effects of Gabapentin

  • The most common side effects of gabapentin include dizziness, somnolence, peripheral oedema, and gait disturbance 3
  • Participants taking gabapentin experienced dizziness (19%), somnolence (14%), peripheral oedema (7%), and gait disturbance (14%) 3
  • Adverse event withdrawals were more common with gabapentin (11%) than with placebo (8.2%) 3
  • Serious adverse events were no more common with gabapentin (3.2%) than with placebo (2.8%) 3
  • Individual adverse events occurred significantly more often with gabapentin, including dizziness, somnolence, peripheral oedema, and gait disturbance 3

Comparison with Pregabalin

  • Pregabalin was associated with dizziness and somnolence (21%-26%) as the most problematic adverse events 4
  • Gabapentin and pregabalin are both used to treat neuropathic pain, but pregabalin has a more linear and dose-independent absorption profile 4
  • Both gabapentin and pregabalin are effective in treating neuropathic pain, but the choice of medication depends on individual patient needs and tolerability 5, 6

Mechanism of Action

  • Gabapentinoids, including gabapentin, target the voltage-dependent calcium channels α2δ-1 subunit, inhibiting calcium currents and decreasing excitatory transmitter release and spinal sensitization 7
  • Gabapentinoids also activate the descending noradrenergic pain inhibitory system coupled to spinal α2 adrenoceptors 7
  • Antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, are also used to treat neuropathic pain and work by recruiting noradrenergic descending pathways and peripheral noradrenaline from sympathetic fibers sprouting into dorsal root ganglia 7

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Gabapentin for chronic neuropathic pain in adults.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2017

Research

Pregabalin in neuropathic pain: a more "pharmaceutically elegant" gabapentin?

The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy, 2005

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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