Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an anticonvulsant medication indicated in the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain. It is also used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and may be effective in reducing pain and spasticity in multiple sclerosis.
It has also been used in the treatment of anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Gabapentin is similar in structure to the neurotransmitter GABA but is not believed to act on the same brain receptors. Its exact mechanism of action is unknown, but its therapeutic action on neuropathic pain is thought to involve voltage gated calcium ion channels.