Gabapentin is a medicine that may be used for the treatment of certain seizure disorders or nerve pain.
Experts aren’t sure exactly how gabapentin works, but research has shown that gabapentin binds strongly to a specific site (called the alpha2-delta site) on voltage-gated calcium channels. This action is thought to be the mechanism for the way it relieves nerve-pain and lowers the risk of seizures.
Gabapentin enacarbil (brand name Horizant) is a prodrug of gabapentin which has been designed to overcome the limitations of gabapentin, such as poor absorption and a short duration of action. Gabapentin enacarbil is effective for restless legs syndrome (RLS) and postherpetic neuralgia (nerve pain that occurs following Shingles).
Gabapentin belongs to the group of medicines known as anticonvulsants.
