{"id":52772,"date":"2022-07-22T09:30:02","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T13:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=52772"},"modified":"2025-11-24T20:11:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T01:11:40","slug":"caffeine-and-gabapentin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/caffeine-and-gabapentin\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it safe to mix caffeine and gabapentin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If a cup of coffee is your go-to remedy for morning grogginess, welcome to the club.\u00a0<\/span>Caffeine is a popular way to wake up\u2014it stimulates your central nervous system, heart, and muscles. While some studies suggest that moderate consumption of coffee is healthy, even linked to a <\/span>lower likelihood<\/span><\/a> of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it can be detrimental if you use certain prescription medications to manage them. Caffeine can <\/span>interact<\/span><\/a> with some medications by heightening or lessening the intended effect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you take <\/span>gabapentin<\/span><\/a> (or the brand name <\/span>Neurontin<\/span><\/a>)\u2014an<\/span> anticonvulsant medication<\/span><\/a> prescribed to treat seizures and certain types of pain\u2014here\u2019s what you need to know about combining it with caffeine.<\/span><\/p>\n

How does caffeine affect gabapentin?<\/h2>\n

\u201cGabapentin usually increases the threshold for seizures,\u201d says <\/span>David Vossler, MD<\/span>, <\/span>chair of the <\/span>American Epilepsy Society\u2019s<\/span> Council on Clinical Activities and a clinical professor of neurology at the University of Washington. \u201c<\/span>It makes the hurdle higher so the seizure can\u2019t get over that hurdle.\u201d <\/span>When the mice in the study had too much caffeine\u2014akin to drinking too many shots of espresso or cans of Red Bull\u2014the hurdle was lowered. Meaning, it was more likely a seizure could occur.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the first study to establish a link between caffeine intake and a decrease in the effectiveness of anticonvulsant medication. \u201cThere have been some animal studies with the older anti-seizure drugs,\u201d Dr. Vossler<\/a> says. \u201cThere was a review article published in 2007 that did indicate that there were previous studies in which caffeine reduced the effectiveness of the older anti-seizure medications.\u201d If you\u2019re taking gabapentin for an off-label usage, the effects are unknown\u2014but it may reduce effectiveness as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

As this was an animal study, Dr. Vossler cautions using it as evidence to cut caffeine consumption and to speak with your doctor if you have concerns about seizures.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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Can I drink coffee with gabapentin?<\/h2>\n

When consumed in moderation, it\u2019s mostly okay to combine gabapentin and caffeine from coffee, as long as you have the green light from your healthcare provider. Just be mindful of how much caffeine you are consuming. For healthy adults, the<\/span> FDA suggests<\/span><\/a> 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine as a daily limit. Here are the average amounts of caffeine in common drinks:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n