Is Gabapentin (Neurontin) A Controlled Substance?

Neurontin is mostly used as an anticonvulsant for reducing epileptic seizures or as a pain medication for treating nerve pain that is caused by multiple sclerosis. Sometimes, doctors prescribe it to patients who have other medical conditions, such as restless leg syndrome.

Unfortunately, gabapentin is sometimes misused by people with polysubstance use disorders who mix it with opioids, like heroin and other pain medications, to increase the effects of these drugs.

The combined effects of gabapentin and other opioids or drugs misused contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular failure, causing many individuals to suffer from a drug overdose. Because of this risk, some states are starting to classify gabapentin as a controlled substance to limit a patient’s ability to misuse the medication.

This risk has become more acute with the prevalence of illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Gabapentin is increasingly found in combination with fentanyl in toxicology reports. The sedative effects of gabapentin compound fentanyl’s respiratory depression and can render standard naloxone dosing less effective. Anyone using gabapentin alongside any illicit substance should have naloxone available and never use it alone.

Controlled Substances: Dangerous Drug Classifications

Drugs are classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration according to their potential for misuse and whether they have any valuable medical purposes. Each controlled substance is put on a numbered schedule to help law enforcement officials and medical professionals know how it is supposed to be handled in legal and medical matters.

The following is a list of the schedules of controlled substances currently used by the DEA:

• Schedule I Drugs: These drugs have no accepted medical purposes. They are highly addictive and frequently abused. Heroin, marijuana, and LSD are on this list.
• Schedule II Drugs: Drugs on this list are frequently abused, but they serve some medical purposes. Methadone and morphine are on this list.
• Schedule III Drugs: The drugs on this list have a reduced likelihood of being abused or causing physical dependence. There are still some dangers to using them, though. Ketamine is a Schedule III drug that has legitimate medical uses as an anesthetic and, more recently, as an FDA-approved treatment for treatment-resistant depression (esketamine/Spravato). It is also misused recreationally.
• Schedule IV Drugs: These drugs have a low potential for abuse relative to Schedule III. Common examples include benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam), as well as sleep aids like Ambien (zolpidem).
• Schedule V Drugs: These drugs have the lowest federally recognized abuse potential. Examples include cough preparations with small amounts of codeine (such as Robitussin AC). Gabapentin is classified as Schedule V in a growing number of states, though it remains unscheduled at the federal level.

Why Gabapentin (Neurontin) Is A Controlled Substance In Some States

Understanding why gabapentin (Neurontin) is a controlled substance requires learning about the way that federal and state laws can vary regarding controlled substances. Currently, the federal government is not listing gabapentin as a controlled substance.

This means that states have the option of changing their individual laws if they have concerns about the drug being misused.

As of 2025, at least 16 states have classified gabapentin as a controlled substance, with the majority designating it Schedule V. States including Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Michigan, North Dakota, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Nebraska have enacted scheduling laws in response to rising overdose involvement. Several additional states monitor gabapentin dispensing through their prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) even without formal scheduling.

Gabapentin Is One Of The Most Frequently Prescribed Drugs In The U.S.

Gabapentin can be used to treat many different conditions because it works well as an anticonvulsant, pain medication, and sedative. Doctors frequently prescribe it for purposes other than those for which it was developed.

One example of this is that gabapentin is prescribed to patients as an alternative to the medication-assisted treatment medications for opioid use disorders prescribed at alcohol and drug treatment centers. Sometimes, alcoholics receive gabapentin as a way of reducing their withdrawal symptoms.

Gabapentin Is Cheap And Easy To Obtain

Gabapentin remains one of the most affordable prescription medications in the U.S., available as a low-cost generic at most pharmacies. Because it is unscheduled federally, prescribing restrictions are minimal compared to controlled substances. This makes it easier to obtain in large quantities, which has contributed to its misuse potential.

Heroin And Cocaine Are Being Laced With This Drug

Because gabapentin acts as a sedative on the central nervous system, some illicit drug manufacturers mix it with heroin and cocaine to make the drugs more potent. The way the medication is misused seems to vary because each person’s body chemistry is different.

For some, the medication causes an intense burst of energy, so they may prefer to mix it with cocaine. Others are sedated by it, so they may mix it with heroin or other opioids.

Why Is Gabapentin Not A Federally Controlled Substance?

Understanding why gabapentin is a controlled substance isn’t easy because the medication doesn’t affect the same receptors in the brain that opioids do. While it has a high potential for abuse, it isn’t considered to be a dangerous substance yet, since it still has medicinal properties.

The FDA and DEA have reviewed gabapentin’s scheduling status multiple times in recent years. As of 2025, gabapentin remains unscheduled at the federal level, though the FDA has required updated warning labels about misuse potential and respiratory risk. The ongoing state-by-state patchwork approach means that oversight varies significantly depending on where a patient lives.

How Changes To Drug Classifications Affect Patients

If this medication becomes classified as a controlled substance, it will affect patients and medical professionals in different ways. Patients will have to have a paper prescription to take to the pharmacy since electronic prescriptions won’t be usable. They will also be limited to the amount of the medication they can get and how many prescriptions for it they can receive.

Doctors who are registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration will be the only ones to be able to give the prescriptions out. Any other medical professional with a patient who needs the medication will have to give them a referral to see someone else.

Treatment Options For Prescription Drug Misuse

Treatment for gabapentin misuse, especially when it is part of a polysubstance use disorder, typically requires medically supervised detox followed by a comprehensive treatment program that addresses all substances involved. Abruptly stopping gabapentin after heavy use can cause withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and in some cases seizures. Cognitive behavioral therapy and medication-assisted treatment for any co-occurring opioid use disorder are cornerstones of recovery.

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Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff