Sedation after Gabapentin in dogs

The FDA has received 65 reports of sedation in dogs after Gabapentin. That is 0.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

65Reports

60%Marked serious

28%Recovered

15%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

20 34%

1–2 days

8 14%

3–7 days

10 17%

1–4 weeks

3 5.2%

Over a month

17 29%

How the animals did

Recovered

18 28%

Still unwell when reported

25 38%

Died

2 3.1%

Euthanised

8 12%

Not known

12 18%

Problems reported at the same time

19 29%

19 29%

16 25%

13 20%

13 20%

11 17%

11 17%

10 15%

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 sedation in dogs?: 65 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 3 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).

Sedation with similar medicines

Sedation after Trazodone 41 reports · 1.6% of its reports

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