Gabapentin Facts
Depressant;
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Oral(mg)
Threshold< 200 mgLight200 – 900 mgCommon900 – 1500 mgStrong1500 – 2400 mgHeavy2400+ mg
Starts in 30 – 120 minLasts 6 – 10 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 8 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Low
- Chronic toxicity
- Low
- Physical dependence
- Moderate
- Psychological dependence
- Low
- Withdrawal
- Moderate · medical supervision
- Compulsive redosing
- Low
Tolerance
- Builds
- Moderate
- Fully resets after
- Not recorded
- Carries over to
- pregabalin
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- none likely · 6 possible, including Visual acuity suppression, Vestibular distortion, Visual haze / noise
- Body
- Dizziness;
Pain suppression; Motor control impairment; Physical fatigue; Sedation; +13 possible, including Nausea, Nystagmus (eye wobbles), Trembling - Thinking
- Cognitive impairment;
+12 possible, including Decision impairment, Information processing suppression, Analysis suppression - Feeling
- Anxiety suppression;
+3 possible, including Emotional lability - Self
- Disinhibition;
+3 possible, including Craving - Time
- none likely · 2 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Who shouldn't take it
Absolute
Concurrent opioid use
Relative
Concurrent benzodiazepine use; Concurrent alcohol use; Suicidal ideation or depression; Renal impairment; Pregnancy; Elderly; History of substance use disorder
Combinations60 recorded
Dangerous (11)
Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates; Buprenorphine, Kratom; Clonidine, Guanfacine; Opioids; SNRIs; Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Benzodiazepines; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; Synthetic cannabinoids
Caution (26)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/gabapentin
Not graded (23)
Not listed never means safe.
Seek help immediately if
- Extreme drowsiness — can't stay awake or be roused
- Confusion, slurred speech, severe loss of coordination
- Slow, shallow, or irregular breathing
- Unconsciousness / unresponsive; limp, floppy body
- Blue lips or fingertips
- Vomiting while sedated (choking / aspiration risk)
- Cold, clammy skin; weak pulse
What to do
- Try to wake them — shout, firm sternal rub
- If unresponsive or breathing is impaired, call emergency services
- Place them in the recovery position — critical, they can choke on vomit
- Monitor breathing continuously; be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR
- Never leave them alone to "sleep it off"
- Do not give other drugs, stimulants, or more depressants
Most depressant overdoses resolve with airway protection, breathing support, and monitoring. The danger is respiratory depression and choking on vomit — sharply worse when combined with opioids or alcohol. GHB/GBL overdoses often involve sudden deep unconsciousness and may self-resolve, but airway protection is essential.
988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE
psychedex.org/substances/gabapentin · Version r1 · Not medical adviceValues as of