It’s very important to let your doctor know about all drugs you are taking, including illegal or recreational drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs, or supplements.
Taking gabapentin with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before taking gabapentin with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Types of drugs that are known to interact with gabapentin and may cause problems include:
- Opiate pain medications, including Vicodin and morphine, among others
- Naproxen (also known as the brands Aleve, Naprosyn, and others)
- Medications used for heartburn, including Mylanta, Maalox, and cimetidine
If you do dipstick tests to check your urine for protein, tell your doctor. Gabapentin may affect the results of some of these types of tests.
There are only a few interaction issues that are known. Antacids have been known to decrease absorption of the drug, as well as lower the blood level by 20%. Gabapentin could also increase the level of concentration of some oral contraceptives by up to 13%. However, these two interaction possibilities are not clinically significant in any way.