Anxiety after Gabapentin in dogs

204 reports to the FDA describe anxiety in dogs given Gabapentin. That is 2.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

204Reports

56%Marked serious

14%Recovered

18%Died or euthanised

20 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

31 19%

1–2 days

22 13%

3–7 days

11 6.7%

1–4 weeks

31 19%

Over a month

68 42%

How the animals did

Recovered

27 13%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.5%

Still unwell when reported

86 42%

Died

4 2.0%

Euthanised

32 16%

Not known

54 26%

Problems reported at the same time

68 33%

53 26%

47 23%

43 21%

42 21%

42 21%

39 19%

36 18%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Gabapentin used for pain and to reduce stress or anxiety.

Questions owners ask

Can Gabapentin cause anxiety in dogs?: 204 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 20 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Anxiety with similar medicines

Anxiety after Fluoxetine 92 reports · 3.6% of its reports
Anxiety after Trazodone 101 reports · 4.0% of its reports
Anxiety after Clomipramine (Clomicalm) 28 reports · 1.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Gabapentin in dogs · Medicines most reported with anxiety