Pregabalin oral capsule vs. gabapentin oral forms: A detailed guide

This article explains how pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms are similar and different. You can view detailed articles about pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms if you’d like more information about these drugs.

Uses of pregabalin and gabapentin

Here’s a summary of the approved uses of pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms:

Pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms are prescribed together with other seizure medications for focal onset seizures.

If you’d like to know more about taking either medication for your condition, ask your doctor. They can recommend whether pregabalin oral capsule or gabapentin oral forms are an option to consider.

Side effects of pregabalin and gabapentin

Pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common mild side effects of each drug are listed below. Serious side effects of pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms are also listed.

Keep in mind that your side effects may differ from those listed below. They can vary based on your overall health, any other medications you take, and your age.

This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of these medications. To find more information, you can view the prescribing information for pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral tablet, capsule, and liquid solution. You can also check out these articles about pregabalin oral capsule side effects and gabapentin oral forms side effects.

Mild side effects

Below are some of the mild side effects reported with pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral tablet, capsule, and liquid solution:

Serious side effects

Below are serious side effects reported with pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral tablet, capsule, and liquid solution:

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible, but they’re not common. If you have serious side effects from pregabalin oral capsule or gabapentin oral forms, call your doctor right away. If your symptoms are severe or you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Suicide prevention

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 Textline 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.

Questions about pregabalin and gabapentin

Below, you’ll find answers to some common questions about pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms.

Between pregabalin and gabapentin, is one a better treatment for nerve pain?

Doctors may prescribe either pregabalin oral capsule or gabapentin oral forms to treat nerve pain related to shingles. In studies, pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral tablet, capsule, and liquid solution were all effective for this purpose.

That said, these medications differ in some ways. For instance:

• pregabalin can also be prescribed for nerve pain related to diabetes or spinal cord injury
• pregabalin is absorbed better and works faster than gabapentin
• the medications have some different side effects*

Keep in mind that your results from taking pregabalin oral capsule or gabapentin oral forms may differ from those seen in studies.

Your doctor can help determine whether one option is better for your condition. They’ll recommend this based on your specific needs and health factors.

Talk with your doctor if you’d like to learn more about which drug is right for you.

* For details about the side effects of pregabalin and gabapentin, see the “Side effects of pregabalin and gabapentin” section above.

Can pregabalin or gabapentin be used for anxiety or sleep?

Pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms aren’t approved to treat anxiety or sleep problems. But doctors may prescribe either of these drugs off-label for anxiety or sleep problems related to anxiety. (With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.)

Pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms are used to treat focal onset seizures (also known as partial seizures) and nerve pain related to shingles. Pregabalin also has other uses. (For more information about the uses of these drugs, see the “Uses of pregabalin and gabapentin” section above.)

To learn more about using pregabalin oral capsule or gabapentin oral forms for anxiety or sleep, talk with your doctor. They can recommend treatment options for this condition.

Dosage of pregabalin and gabapentin

Below is dosage information for the conditions that both pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms are prescribed to treat. To find detailed dosage information for all conditions that these drugs treat, see these articles about pregabalin oral capsule dosage and gabapentin oral forms dosage.

The following dosages are provided by makers of pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms. If your doctor prescribes either medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. They’ll advise the dosage that’s best for your condition. Do not adjust your dosage without first talking with your doctor.

Pregabalin’s dosage

Below is a summary of pregabalin oral capsule’s recommended dosages in adults and children. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg). Pregabalin comes as a capsule that you’ll swallow. It also comes as an oral extended-release tablet and oral liquid, but this article only discusses the capsule form.

Gabapentin’s dosage

Below is a summary of gabapentin oral form’s recommended dosages in adults and children. Strength is measured in mg.

Cost of pregabalin and gabapentin

As with the cost of other medications, the cost of pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms can vary. Their price may be affected by:

• whether they’re covered by health insurance, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy they’re purchased from

Coupons and cost savings

To view drug prices when Optum Perks coupons are applied, see this coupon page for pregabalin oral capsule and this coupon page for gabapentin oral forms. You can also check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

The options described in this article may also help you save on your prescription.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Brand-name versions

Pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms are generic medications. Below is information about whether these drugs are available in brand-name versions.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) 

Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

Here’s a summary about brand-name versions of pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms:

If your doctor prescribed pregabalin or gabapentin, but you’d like to know about taking its brand-name version, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They can help determine whether the brand-name version is right for you.

Warnings for pregabalin and gabapentin

Some medications may not be recommended for you if you have certain factors affecting your health. These are referred to as a drug’s warnings.

Some people should not take pregabalin oral capsule or gabapentin oral forms, and others should take either medication with caution.

Warnings for pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms are summarized below. Before taking either medication, talk with your doctor about your health conditions, past surgeries, and any medications you take. Your doctor can recommend whether either drug is safe for you.

Warnings for pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms are summarized in the table below:

You can view more detailed articles about pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral forms if you’d like to know more about warnings for these drugs. You can also view the prescribing information for pregabalin oral capsule and gabapentin oral tablet, capsule, and liquid solution.

What to ask a doctor

If you’re trying to decide whether pregabalin oral capsule or gabapentin oral forms are better for you, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best option.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Do either of these drugs interact with my other medications?
• Do either of these drugs have any long-term side effects?
• Do I have any health factors that make pregabalin or gabapentin a better fit?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.