Gabapentin for Fibromyalgia
What Is Gabapentin? Gabapentin is somewhat commonly prescribed as a fibromyalgia treatment, however, it is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this condition. It's often prescribed off-label. However, the drug is chemically related to Lyrica (pregabalin), which is approved for fibromyalgia. In fact, Lyrica is sometimes referred to as the "son of Neurontin." Gabapentin is classified as an anti-seizure drug. It's used to treat epilepsy, neuropathy (pain from damaged nerves), restless legs syndrome, and hot flashes. Fibromyalgia pain is similar to neuropathy, but whether this condition involves nerve damage still isn't clear. [caption id="attachment_310" align="aligncenter" width="512"] gabapentin mechanism of actions[/caption] How Gabapentin Works Gabapentin is believed to work by altering the release of glutamate and other neurotransmitters in your brain.1 Neurotransmitters send messages from one brain cell to…