{"id":629267,"date":"2024-08-15T09:30:48","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T13:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=629267"},"modified":"2025-10-08T11:05:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T15:05:24","slug":"gabapentin-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/gabapentin-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you take gabapentin during pregnancy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gabapentin<\/span><\/a>\u2014sold under the brand names \u200b\u200bNeurontin, Horizant, and Gralise\u2014is a medication used to <\/span>treat epilepsy<\/span><\/a> and nerve pain. First <\/span>discovered in the 1970s<\/span><\/a>, this medication was initially used as a muscle relaxant and to manage spasms. Gabapentin is also <\/span>prescribed<\/span><\/a> for treating symptoms related to restless leg syndrome, postherpetic neuralgia, and menopause-related hot flashes.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Five in 1,000 pregnant people<\/span><\/a> use antiseizure medications like gabapentin, and the use is increasing. With more frequent use, many wonder: Is gabapentin safe during pregnancy?<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregnant women are sometimes prescribed gabapentin. However, \u201cas in all cases where a woman has a seizure disorder and requires anti-epileptic therapy, the benefits should outweigh the risks,\u201d explains <\/span>Kecia Gaither<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>MD, double board-certified OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist at <\/span>NYC Health + Hospitals\/Lincoln<\/span><\/a> in the Bronx, New York.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you take gabapentin while pregnant?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not known if gabapentin is safe for use during pregnancy,” says <\/span>Ashley Wong, Pharm.D.<\/span><\/a>, a member of the <\/span>SingleCare Medical Review Board<\/span><\/a>. The use of gabapentin by expectant mothers should be a shared decision between a healthcare provider and patient to consider the potential risks of fetal exposure and the benefits of treatment.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists gabapentin as <\/span>a Pregnancy Category C<\/span><\/a> medication. That means while <\/span>there is no definitive evidence of danger to the fetus<\/span><\/a>, risks cannot be ruled out. Here\u2019s what the existing research shows:<\/span><\/p>\n