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Pregabalin (Lyrica) vs. Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Lyrica (pregabalin) and Neurontin (gabapentin) are both classified as “gabapentinoids” (i.e. α2δ ligands).  As gabapentinoids, Lyrica (pregabalin) and Neurontin (gabapentin) are chemical analogues of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) that interact with α2δ subunit-containing voltage-dependent calcium channels. Development of gabapentin (Neurontin) was initiated in the 1970s by chemists at the pharmaceutical company Parke-Davis – …

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Gabapentin For Sleep & Insomnia: Does It Help?

Gabapentin, sold under the brand name “Neurontin,” is a drug that was first approved by the United States FDA in 1993 as an adjunct treatment for partial seizures in adults.  Thereafter, gabapentin’s indication as a treatment for partial seizures would be extended in 2000 to pediatrics, and subsequently, it would receive FDA approval for the …

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Gabapentin For Opiate Withdrawal

Gabapentin is rumored to have been synthesized by chemists in the 1970s in attempt to develop an antispasmodic agent.  After its synthesis, rights to gabapentin were acquired by Parke-Davis (a subsidiary of Pfizer) whereafter it underwent clinical trials that evaluated its safety and anticonvulsant efficacy in the treatment of seizures.  Clinical trial data indicated that …

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How Long Does Gabapentin Stay In Your System?

Gabapentin (brand name “Neurontin”) is a drug initially approved by the FDA in 1993 as an adjunct treatment for partial seizures, and 11 years later in 2004, received approval for the treatment of neuropathic pain.  It has since gained popularity as an off-label treatment for a variety of conditions including: anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, hot …

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Gabapentin For Dogs: Potential Uses In Canines

Gabapentin is a drug that was formally approved in 1993 for the treatment of epilepsy.  It is still commonly used as an anticonvulsant drug, generally as an adjunct.  Roughly a decade later, the drug was approved for the treatment of neuropathic pain.  It is considered to function via modulation of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the …

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Is Neurontin (Gabapentin) a “Narcotic”?

Neurontin (Gabapentin) is a drug that has been on the market since 1993 for which it was initially approved to treat epileptic seizures as an adjunct.  It has anticonvulsant properties, but is also considered to have analgesic effects and is sometimes helpful for pain reduction.  Approximately 10 years after Gabapentin’s initial approval to treat epilepsy, it …

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Gabapentin Recreational Use: Growing In Popularity

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is a pharmaceutical drug that has received a lot of mainstream attention in part due to the fact that it is frequently prescribed “off-label” or to treat conditions for which it is not FDA approved.  The drug was originally approved in 1993 for the treatment of epilepsy, and has been found to be …

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