Combining alcohol and gabapentin is a dangerous combination. It may lead to a hangover, which many people find very frightening. Mixing alcohol and gabapentin will result in vomiting, dizziness, nausea, and even difficulty concentrating. In some cases, you may also become at greater risk for internal bleeding or heart problems.

Depending on the particular body system s system in which you are using gabapentin, alcohol can also render certain medications more ineffective or even more toxic. Gabapentin, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is used to treat a wide range of medical and neurological disorders. Although it has shown great promise as a treatment for serious debilitating neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, seizures and migraine headaches, it is not recommended to treat alcoholism and gabapentin at the same time. The two medications are most likely to interact if one is given before the other.

Because it is relatively new in the field of medicine, there are not enough studies concerning the negative side effects of gabapentin and alcohol on the liver. One study found that patients who took alcohol before taking gabapentin had more severe adverse effects than those who did not take the two medicines together. However, this was only a study of patients who were prescribed alcohol to treat certain symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis. If further studies confirm that combining alcohol and gabapentin will produce adverse effects, doctors may advise their patients not to take both medicines together.

Two other research studies involving elderly patients who were prescribed alcohol to treat various symptoms of dementia showed no side effects of both gabapentin and alcohol. One of the drugs, a tricyclic antidepressant, already known to cause dizziness in certain individuals, was also combined with a gabapentin-for-dazzle combination. Dizziness produced by the combined medication was mild, not severe enough to cause concern. Similarly, another antidepressant, an anticonvulsant, already known to cause severe side effects such as seizures, did not produce any side effects when taken with gabapentin-for-dazzle.

research on gabapentin and alcohol

Though the above research studies confirm the benefits of combining alcohol and gabapentin, it should be noted that this type of treatment has not yet been approved for treating alcoholism or other forms of substance abuse and dependence. This medication may prove useful in cases where a person is attempting to quit alcohol or is experiencing a relapse of the disorder. Alcohol and depression do not go well together, but as alcoholism is often associated with another mental disorder, it is possible that the combination produces a toxic combination. It is unknown how this medication will react in patients already prone to developing another mental disorder caused by the use of alcohol or other substance abuse.

It is important for persons using this medication to consult their doctors if they plan to drink alcohol or to take this supplement. In cases where patients drink alcohol and then take the medication, it can result in some serious complications. The combination of a depressant and an anticonvulsant drug can be extremely dangerous. Although it is not clear how this medication interacts with other substances, it is obvious that it should be avoided while at the same time taking this as a supplement for the purpose of treating alcoholism or any other form of substance abuse and dependency. It is best to avoid alcohol and take Gabapentin instead.

Related: Gabapentin Addiction