A Massive List of Other Drugs in the Same Class as Gabapentin

Looking for other drugs in the same class as Gabapentin? We’ve compiled a large list of Gabapentin alternatives.

Gabapentin is classified as an anticonvulsant. It’s used for pain management, epilepsy, restless leg syndrome and hot flashes. In general, anticonvulsants “work” by increasing the inhibitory activity of the neurotransmitter GABA, or decrease the activity of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate.

Gabapentin is a GABA analogue – it’s chemical structure is a modified version of the neurotransmitter GABA. This means that Gabapentin behaves similarly to GABA in the brain. Gabapentin tends to decrease anxiety, pain perception and promote a relaxed mental state.

What Other Drugs Are in the Same Class as Gabapentin?

The follow table is a list of Gabapentin alternatives – all of which are anticonvulsants. Most of them are approved for epilepsy, but are used off-label for other purposes. For example, valproic acid is used both for epilepsy but also as a mood stabilizer.

Anticonvulsant Mechanism Comments
Carbamazepine Voltage-dependent sodium channels Treats focal/generalized seizures, bipolar disorder, chronic pain (trigeminal neuralgia)
Phenytoin Voltage-dependent sodium channels focal/generalized seizures, status epilepticus, mixed seizures
Lamotrigine Voltage-dependent sodium channels focal seizures and generalized seizures (adjunct), mood disorders
Oxcarbazepine Voltage-dependent sodium channels Focal and secondarily generalized tonic clonic seizures
Zonisamide Voltage-dependent sodium channels and T-type calcium channels Focal and generalized seizures in adults and children
Lacosamide Enhancement of slow inactivation of voltage-dependent sodium channels Focal-onset seizures for adults
Rufinamide Prolongs inactivate state of sodium channels Seizures associated with Lennox Gastaut syndrome (LGS)
Eslicarbazepine Blockade of voltage-gated sodium channels in rapid firing neurons Focal-onset seizures for adults
Ethosuximide Diminishes T-type calcium currents Absence seizures
Phenobarbital Increases GABA(A) receptor activity Generalized and focal seizures
Tiagabine Increases GABA levels Adjunct for focal seizures
Vigabatrin Irreversible inhibitor of GABA-transaminase Refractory focal seizures
Clobazam Benzodiazepine Adjunct for >2 y/o patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS)
Clorazepate, diazepam, lorazepam Benzodiazepine Myoclonic and atonic seizures, focal and generalized tonic-clonic seizures
Clobazam Benzodiazepine Adjunct for >2 y/o patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS)
Perampanel AMPA-type glutamate receptor antagonist focal-onset and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients >12
Valproate blocks voltage-dependent sodium channels, increases GABA levels, increases GABA synthesis generalized and focal seizures
Felbamate Blocks NMDA-type glutamate receptors and increases GABA function Focal seizures and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Topiramate Blocks voltage-dependent sodium channels, enhances GABA activity, antagonizes NMDA-type glutamate receptors Adjunct for focal seizures in adults and children >2
Gabapentin Binds voltage-dependent calcium channels Adjunct for refractory focal seizures
Leviracetam Binds synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, GABA modulation Adjunct for focal-onset seizures, myoclonic seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures with idiopathic generalized epilepsy
Pregabalin binds voltage-gated calcium channels and affects glutamate, noradrenaline, and substance P Adjunct for focal seizures, neuropathic pain, postherpetic neuralgia, fibromyalgia
Ezogabine Opens KCNQ2/3 voltage-gated potassium channels Adjunct for focal seizures in adults
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Xavier Kent

I'm interested in nutrition, nootropics, and javascript. I'm a firm believer in getting really good at one thing.

Maryland

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