Gabapentin is a medication primarily used to:
- Control partial (focal) seizures in epilepsy by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain
- Relieve neuropathic pain, especially postherpetic neuralgia (pain following shingles) and diabetic neuropathy, by altering how pain signals are transmitted to the brain
- Treat moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome, though its exact mechanism for this use is unclear
Gabapentin belongs to a class of drugs called anticonvulsants. It works by binding to a specific subunit (α2δ-1) of voltage-gated calcium channels in nerve cells, which reduces the release of excitatory neurotransmitters like glutamate, thereby calming nerve activity and reducing pain and seizures
. It is structurally similar to the neurotransmitter GABA but does not act directly on GABA receptors
. Gabapentin is not used for routine pain from minor injuries or arthritis and is available only by prescription in various forms including capsules, tablets, and oral solutions
. In summary, gabapentin helps prevent seizures and relieve certain types of nerve-related pain by modulating nerve signal transmission in the brain and nervous system
