{"id":635408,"date":"2026-03-03T09:30:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T14:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=635408"},"modified":"2026-02-25T14:21:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:21:46","slug":"does-gabapentin-lower-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/does-gabapentin-lower-blood-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Can gabapentin lower your blood pressure?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Approximately <\/span>73 million people in the U.S. take prescription gabapentin<\/span><\/a> to treat nerve pain, manage conditions like postherpetic neuralgia and restless legs syndrome (RLS), or as a therapy for partial-onset seizures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are several known <\/span>gabapentin<\/span><\/a> side effects, including dizziness, fatigue, and swelling of the hands and feet. While some people may experience a drop in blood pressure after acute use of the drug, lowered blood pressure is not a common side effect of long-term use.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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Does gabapentin cause lower blood pressure?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cGabapentin does not directly influence blood pressure. However, some patients experience a drop in blood pressure, especially older adults,\u201d explains <\/span>Erika Gray, Pharm.D<\/span><\/a>., founder and chief medical officer at ToolBox Genomics.com. \u201cThe Federal Drug Administration labels drops in blood pressure (hypotension) as an infrequent side effect for gabapentin. \u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clinical trials of gabapentin, brand name <\/span>Neurontin<\/span><\/a>, have not shown a statistically meaningful change in blood pressure; however, studies conducted on humans for this exact topic are few and far between.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a very niche study on patients who underwent <\/span>microvascular breast reconstruction, those who received gabapentin had more <\/span>postoperative hypotensive events<\/span><\/a>, also known as sudden drops in blood pressure after surgery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, gabapentin may have some other cardiovascular side effects, including hypotension and peripheral edema (swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet). However, long-term use of the drug does not typically result in sustained lowered blood pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How might gabapentin influence blood pressure?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cGabapentin\u2019s effect on blood pressure is not directly from the medication,\u201d explains Dr. Gray. \u201cInstead, the change in blood pressure may be caused by sedation of the central nervous system, which decreases the sympathetic (fight or flight) signaling in the brain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gabapentin is an <\/span>anticonvulsant<\/span><\/a> drug that works by blocking nerve signals. It binds to subunits of voltage-dependent calcium channels in the nucleus tractus solitarii in the brainstem. This attachment prevents calcium entry, which changes how nerve cells signal and influence things like heart rate or blood pressure. As a result, gabapentin <\/span>regulates the neurotransmitters<\/span><\/a>, or chemical messengers, responsible for making you feel pain or go into seizures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When these brain chemicals change, your muscles tighten less, and your blood vessels relax. That means your body isn\u2019t squeezing as hard (it has lowered arterial pressure), which allows blood to flow more easily. This can result in lower blood pressure. Hence, gabapentin doesn\u2019t have a direct mechanism of action on cardiovascular responses, but it can indirectly influence them.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a study on rats, researchers found that acute administration of gabapentin <\/span>lowered both blood pressure and heart rate<\/span><\/a> within 30 minutes of receiving the injection. The effect was more pronounced in hypertensive rats (those with high blood pressure) versus their normotensive (those with normal blood pressure) counterparts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This happens because gabapentin reduces the levels of norepinephrine in plasma. Norepinephrine is a chemical compound responsible for your fight-or-flight reaction. It constricts your blood vessels, raising your blood pressure. So when gabapentin comes along and changes how much norepinephrine is released, it has a hemodynamic effect, changing how the heart and blood vessels respond, and decreases sympathetic nerve transmission, your body\u2019s stress-related nerve signals. This could result in a decrease in blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Proven benefits of gabapentin<\/span><\/h2>\n

A healthcare provider may prescribe you gabapentin for several reasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Manages pain<\/span><\/h3>\n

One of the most common reasons someone may be prescribed gabapentin is to control chronic pain. While not a traditional analgesic, gabapentin does have pain-reducing effects. In a large review of 29 studies on the effects of the drug, researchers found 43% of people saw <\/span>improvement in neuropathic pain levels<\/span><\/a> when using gabapentin, compared to 26% who saw improvement with a placebo.<\/span><\/p>\n

The drug reduces pain by blocking nerve signals that transmit pain sensation. This sedation may also have a hypotensive effect, reducing high blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Controls seizures and treats epilepsy<\/span><\/h3>\n

Gabapentin has long been a treatment option for people who have epilepsy or experience seizures. In a double-blind study of 127 patients with drug-resistant partial epilepsy, 25% of people who received 1,200 milligrams of gabapentin a day saw the number of <\/span>partial seizures<\/span><\/a> they experienced reduced by 50% or more.<\/span><\/p>\n

This happens because gabapentin keeps brain cells from overacting in the way they would during a seizure, reducing the overall electrical activity in the brain. When you take gabapentin for seizures or <\/span>epilepsy<\/span><\/a>, you could experience a drop in blood pressure because the drug also affects the central nervous system.<\/span><\/p>\n

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