How long does it take for gabapentin to work?

If you have nerve pain, over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) may have little or no effect.

Nerve pain can feel different to different people and can also vary depending on the cause. It may feel like burning, tingling, or sharp pain that can affect your everyday life.

Prescription drugs like gabapentin can help with nerve pain, so it’s worth discussing pain management with a doctor or healthcare professional.

What is gabapentin?

Gabapentin belongs to a class of medications called anticonvulsants. Doctors often prescribe it to help manage seizures in people with epilepsy.

The medication reduces the sensitivity of certain nerve cells in the brain that are involved in seizures and transmitting pain signals.

Gabapentin and its different uses

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves gabapentin for nerve pain, such as that from shingles and specific seizures relating to epilepsy.

Any other gabapentin use is currently considered off-label, but doctors may also recommend the medication for:

• neuropathic or nerve pain, including that from diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS)
• moderate to severe restless leg syndrome (RLS)
• fibromyalgia
• bipolar disorder
• anxiety
• medication-resistant depression and other mood conditions
• social phobia
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• postmenopausal hot flashes
• migraine prevention
• headaches
• tremors
• alcohol withdrawal
• post-surgical pain
• nausea and vomiting
• itching, also known as pruritus
• insomnia
• stubborn, chronic cough

How long does gabapentin take to work?

Gabapentin comes in the following forms:

• Capsules: 100 milligrams (mg), 300 mg, 400 mg
• Tablets: 600 mg, 800 mg
• Liquid: 250 mg per 5 milliliters (mL)

Generally, the drug doesn’t start to work to relieve nerve pain or reduce seizures right away after your first dose. Gabapentin needs time to build up in your system, and it can take around 1 week to notice effects like pain relief. However, sometimes this can take up to 1 month.

The dosage will differ based on your condition and how you respond to the medication. Usually, a doctor or healthcare professional will start you on a lower dosage and increase it as needed.

Is a specific time of day better for taking gabapentin?

The best time to take gabapentin (Neurontin) will depend on the recommendations from your doctor or healthcare team. If they recommend taking one tablet per day, you might consider taking this before you go to sleep, as one of the drug’s main side effects is drowsiness. You could take your dose right before bed or a little while before you go to bed.

Gabapentin doses will vary depending on why you need it, how well you tolerate the drug, and how effective it is for your condition. If your doctor prescribes more than one dose of gabapentin per day, you should space out the doses evenly. This keeps a consistent amount of the drug in your system, which can help keep your symptoms manageable.

The extended-release versions of gabapentin have different instructions:

• The manufacturer recommends taking Horizant once at around 5 p.m. or twice each day. Whether you take the drug once or twice per day will depend on why you take the medication, and you should follow your healthcare team’s advice.
• If your doctor prescribes Gralise, the manufacturer recommends taking this once daily with your evening meal.

How does gabapentin work?

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of the primary neurotransmitters of the central nervous system. It is an amino acid and is responsible for settling down nerve and brain activity.

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an immediate-release medication that works by imitating GABA. Experts believe this may be how it relieves pain due to increased GABA levels. Other brand-name versions of gabapentin include Horizant and Gralise, which are both extended-release forms of the drug.

Does gabapentin have side effects?

Gabapentin works for most people with minimal side effects, but side effects can include:

• headaches
• nausea
• dry mouth
• dizziness or unsteadiness
• blurry vision
• constipation
• increased appetite
• fatigue
• swelling of your legs, feet, or hands

If you experience side effects, you may notice that they improve or go away with time.

Some symptoms may be medical emergencies, such as a severe allergic reaction. You should call a doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms:

• rash
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of your face, throat, tongue, lips, or eyes

Suicide prevention

Suicidal thoughts or actions can be a side effect of gabapentin. If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

• Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
• Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
• Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
• Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

How long can I take gabapentin?

According to the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS), if you take gabapentin (Neurontin) for seizures, you’ll usually need to take it until your condition is manageable. After this, you may need to continue taking it for many years.

If you take it for nerve pain, you can stop taking it a few months after the pain and discomfort subsides. This should ensure that the pain does not return.

What happens if I stop taking gabapentin suddenly?

If you stop taking gabapentin suddenly, you could have withdrawal symptoms. These may include anxiety, difficulty falling or staying asleep, nausea, sweating, and increased pain levels.

If you take gabapentin to treat seizures, suddenly stopping the drug can cause an increase in how often you have seizures.

If you’d prefer to stop taking the medication, you should discuss this with your doctor or healthcare team before stopping. They may decrease your dose gradually over the course of at least a week, which is known as tapering.

Summary

Doctors and healthcare professionals may prescribe gabapentin for seizures and nerve pain, but it also has many off-label uses, including for RLS and MS-related nerve pain.

Since the drug can make you drowsy when you first take it, you should consider taking it before you sleep.

Always talk with your healthcare professional about your treatment options if you feel gabapentin is not right for you.

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