Gabapentin For Sleep: Benefits, Risks & Effectiveness

Clinically Reviewed by Ami G. Risinger, LPC-MHSP

Is it safe to use gabapentin for sleep? How does this drug help with insomnia, and what adverse effects can it cause?

Contact Time Wellness Centers today to learn more about mental health treatment in Tennessee.

What Is Gabapentin?

Gabapentin is a prescription medication that has been available in the United States since the early 1990s.

In the U.S., it is sold under several brand names, including Neurontin and Gralise, and is also available as a generic. Gabapentin can be taken by mouth as a pill, tablet, or oral solution, with recommended daily dosage rates ranging from 300mg to 3600mg.  

Various forms of gabapentin have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat:

• Postherpetic neuralgia (nerve pain due to shingles)
• Partial seizures
• Moderate to severe restless leg syndrome (RLS)

The medication is also frequently used on an off-label basis to treat a wide range of additional medical challenges, such as:

• Diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain due to diabetes)
• Postoperative analgesia (pain after surgery) 
• Fibromyalgia
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Refractory chronic cough (RCC)
• Interstitial cystitis
• Generalized tonic-clonic seizures
• Persistent intense itching
• Postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms
• Migraine
• Insomnia 

Doctors also sometimes prescribe gabapentin on an off-label basis for patients who have mental and behavioral health concerns such as:

• Bipolar disorder
• Anxiety 
• Depression
• Social phobia
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Why Do People Take Gabapentin for Sleep?

You may have noticed that the list of off-label medical uses of gabapentin includes insomnia. Why do doctors sometimes prescribe gabapentin for sleep, and how does the medication work when used for this purpose?

Though this may come as a surprise to you, experts aren’t entirely sure how gabapentin produces the effects that it does. (It may also come as a surprise to learn that this is true of many commonly prescribed medications. Thorough testing can document a drug’s effects and assess its effectiveness, but the mechanism of action – how a drug produces those effects – isn’t always able to be determined.)

In the case of gabapentin, studies indicate that it triggers elevated levels of a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA):

• GABA is the body’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means that it slows activity throughout the central nervous system.
• The benefits of this slowed activity can include diminished pain, an easing of muscle tension, and an overall sense of relaxation. 

These effects highlight why gabapentin can be helpful to people who have been experiencing nerve pain, seizures, and other muscle-related challenges. But how does it benefit people who have had difficulty sleeping?

One study found that gabapentin improves several aspects of sleep quality.

That study, which was published in the journal Clinical Neuropharmacology in March 2010, involved 18 insomnia patients, all of whom took gabapentin for four weeks. Tests conducted at the outset and conclusion of the study found that the drug improved sleep efficiency and slow-wave sleep while decreasing wake after sleep onset (WASO):

• Increased sleep efficiency means a person is likely falling asleep faster and not waking as often during the night.
• Slow wave sleep encompasses two stages of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Research into brain activity during these stages suggests that slow wave sleep is important for memory processing and may also affect other cognitive functions.
• Wake after sleep onset represents the amount of time that a person is awake after they initially fell asleep. Decreased WASO correlates with healthier sleep.

Does Gabapentin Cause Side Effects?

Whether a person is taking gabapentin for sleep or to address another concern, it’s important to be aware that the drug can cause several side effects.

The more common adverse effects that have been associated with gabapentin use include:

• Dizziness
• Headache 
• Vision problems
• Fatigue
• Impaired balance and coordination
• Drowsiness, fever, nystagmus, peripheral edema, hostility, hyperkinesia (in pediatric patients), 
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Impotence
• Memory problems
• Unintentional weight gain

Less common but potentially more dangerous side effects – several of which can be fatal if not properly addressed — include:

• Suicidal thoughts
• Depression
• Swelling of the face, lips, and tongue
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome (rashes, blisters, and peeling skin)
• Rhabdomyolysis (which can cause kidney failure)
• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)

If you experience any side effects after taking gabapentin, you should bring them to your doctor’s attention. If any of the serious effects noted above occur, you may need to seek immediate medical care.

Can You Get Addicted to Gabapentin?

Many of gabapentin’s effects are similar to what people experience when using prescription painkillers or other opioids. Gabapentin is sometimes promoted as a safer option, because they are less likely to lead to addiction or contribute to an overdose.

But “less likely” doesn’t mean that there is no risk of becoming dependent on this drug.

For examples, a December 2017 review in the journal European Psychopharmacology reported that gabapentin does not appear to have “vigorous addictive properties.” But the study noted that people with current or past substance use disorders, especially those who use opioids or engage polysubstance abuse, may have the greatest risk of gabapentin addiction.

If you find it difficult to stop using gabapentin or any other prescription medication, please know that help is available. With effective treatment and a concerted effort on your part, you can end your compulsive medication use and regain control of your behaviors. 

Find Treatment for Gabapentin Addiction in Tennessee

Time Wellness Tennessee provides a full continuum of care for adults who have become dependent on gabapentin and other drugs. We also offer dual diagnosis programming for clients who have anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.

Treatment options at our rehabs in Taft and Chattanooga, TN, include a residential/inpatient program, partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient program (IOP), and outpatient program (OP). 

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.