While some studies indicate that gabapentin does not significantly reduce the symptoms of opiate withdrawal, there is increasing evidence that gabapentinoids are effective in controlling some of the symptoms during opiate detoxification. Gabapentin is a prescription medicine used to treat seizures, pain after shingles, restless legs syndrome, and off-label uses. Learn about side effects, dosage, uses, warnings, interactions, and brand differences. Gabapentin is used to help control partial seizures (convulsions) in the treatment of epilepsy. This medicine cannot cure epilepsy and will only work to control seizures for as long as you continue to take it. Gabapentin is approved to prevent and control partial seizures, relieve postherpetic neuralgia after shingles and moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome. Learn what side effects to watch for, drugs to avoid while taking gabapentin, how to take gabapentin and other important questions and answers. Why is gabapentin bad? While it is generally considered a safe medication to use, says Mackey, gabapentin still often requires caution. One major concern is misuse. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant medication prescribed for a variety of conditions. Learn about its uses, side effects, and what you should know if you've been prescribed this medication. Gabapentin is commonly used to treat and prevent seizures in people with epilepsy or to treat nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia) that can occur after a viral infection called shingles. Gabapentin is used to treat epilepsy. It's also taken for nerve pain, which can be caused by different conditions, such as diabetes and shingles, or by an injury. In epilepsy, it's thought that gabapentin stops seizures by reducing the abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) is commonly used to treat some types of nerve pain but is classified as an anticonvulsant medicine, not as an opioid or narcotic painkiller. Discover what type of pain gabapentin may work best for, its risks and side effects, and who may want to try it.