Gabapentin: Anticonvulsant Treatment and Off-label Uses

Course overview

Gabapentin is a multipurpose medication that enhances GABAergic effects, inhibits excitatory neuronal signaling, and effectively prevents seizures. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved gabapentin as an anticonvulsant, and it is now widely used to manage neuropathic pain, partial-onset seizures, restless legs syndrome, and select psychiatric disorders. Safe use requires assessing renal function, substance misuse history, and potential drug interactions. Personalized dosing and collaboration among primary care, neurology, and psychiatry are vital for optimizing therapy and improving patient outcomes.