Is Gabapentin A Controlled Substance In 2026?

Gabapentin is not classified as a controlled substance under federal law, though a growing number of states have moved to regulate it more closely at the state level. As of 2026, eight states classify gabapentin as a Schedule V controlled substance, and that list has continued to shift in recent years, with Montana adding gabapentin to its schedule in late 2025 while Michigan removed it from its controlled substance list in 2024.

While gabapentin was long considered to have little to no potential for abuse, reports of misuse have grown in recent years, particularly among people who combine it with opioids to enhance their effects, and this risk has become more acute with the rise of illicitly manufactured fentanyl, since gabapentin is increasingly showing up in combination with fentanyl in toxicology reports.

Why Is Gabapentin Not A Controlled Substance?

Gabapentin has evaded the controlled substances list largely due to research that indicates it has little to no potential for abuse or diversion.

However, there has also been research in recent years that shows cases of gabapentin abuse are on the rise, particularly among people with opioid use disorder.

What Is Gabapentin?

Gabapentin is a medication that is prescribed for pain relief and controlling seizures, among other off-label uses. It belongs to a class of drugs known as gabapentinoids, which have a chemical structure similar to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Uses of gabapentin include:

• epilepsy treatment
• post-herpetic neuralgia (from shingles)
• neuropathic pain (nerve pain)
• restless leg syndrome
• post-menopausal hot flashes

Unlike opioid painkillers, gabapentin is not highly addictive. For this reason, some prescribing healthcare providers consider it a safer alternative to opioids for treating mild to moderate pain.

How Does Gabapentin Work?

Gabapentin decreases nerve activity in the central nervous system (CNS), which is composed of the brain and spinal cord. It can also change how the body responds to pain.

Is Gabapentin Dangerous?

Gabapentin was, for a long time, believed to be non-addictive with a low potential for abuse. But it can have dangerous effects if misused alone or with other drugs.

For instance, research shows gabapentin may increase the risk of sedation and overdose death when mixed with CNS depressants like opioids and benzodiazepines.

Which States List Gabapentin As A Controlled Substance?

As of 2026, eight states classify gabapentin as a Schedule V controlled substance, and that list continues to shift, Montana added gabapentin to its schedule in late 2025, while Michigan dropped its scheduling law in 2024 after first enacting it in 2019.

States that currently classify gabapentin as a Schedule V controlled substance include:

• Alabama
• Kentucky
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia

Beyond formal scheduling, several additional states require gabapentin prescriptions to be reported through their prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) as a drug of concern, even without classifying it as a controlled substance outright. Because the list of states continues to change, it’s worth checking with a local pharmacist or your state’s board of pharmacy for the most current rules if you’re prescribed gabapentin.

What Is The Argument For Reclassifying Gabapentin?

Reclassifying gabapentin as a controlled substance on a federal level would strengthen the monitoring of gabapentin prescriptions, as well as cases of misuse and diversion. In February 2022, the nonprofit advocacy group Public Citizen filed a petition with the DEA and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The group argues that gabapentin should be reclassified, saying it “[has] marked potential for abuse with serious consequences that include psychological effects, physical dependence, seizures, suicide, and overdose death.”

What Is The Argument Against Reclassifying Gabapentin?

Some experts, such as doctors and pharmacists, have argued that reclassifying gabapentin is not necessary because gabapentin misuse largely only occurs among people with substance use disorder. That is, it may be misused by those who have a past history of opioid use disorder, or another form of drug addiction, but it’s rarely misused by those without that history.

What Does Gabapentin Misuse Look Like?

Gabapentin is frequently misused in combination with other drugs, particularly narcotics.

Signs of gabapentin misuse include:

• taking higher doses than prescribed
• taking doses more often
• mixing it with other drugs to enhance effects
• snorting gabapentin
• rectal use of gabapentin
• injecting gabapentin
• going to multiple doctors for prescription refills

Get Help For Gabapentin Misuse

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