Chris Aiken, M.D.  Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

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This site is for information only and is not intended as a substitution for psychiatric treatment.

Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Gabapentin (Neurontin) medicine for epilepsy which has also proven helpful for anxiety and chronic pain.  Like other medications for epilepsy, it was thought at first that gabapentin would treat bipolar disorder or mood swings.  However, gabapentin has been ineffective for bipolar disorder in all scientific studies done to date.  None-the-less, many people continue to take gabapentin who have bipolar disorder and report benefit from it.  This may be from its effects on anxiety or other, unknown, effects.  Currently, I do not recommend that people take gabapentin for bipolar unless they are also on other, effective, medications. 

Gabapentin is usually well tolerated and has few side effects.  To learn more about the specifics of this drug, go to:  Index of Drug Information

 

Updated 6/1/4 by Chris Aiken, M.D.