How Long Does Gabapentin Stay in Your System?
When we consider addiction, a medication like gabapentin may not be on our radar. Known also by its brand name Neurontin, gabapentin is a medication typically used to treat epilepsy and neuropathic (nerve) pain. You may be wondering how long gabapentin stays in your system. This can be important for several reasons:
- Medical monitoring – Avoiding potential drug interactions and monitoring for possible side effects for safety.
- Drug testing – Testing for legal conditions or pre-employment screenings is standard.
- Planning for discontinuation – Knowing how long Neurontin stays in the system can help plan the tapering process to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
- Avoiding overdose – When taking other medications or substances that might interact with gabapentin, it’s crucial to know if it’s still in your system.
What is Gabapentin?
Gabapentin belongs to the class of anticonvulsant drugs, but it also has other uses. These uses are “off-label,” meaning that they aren’t formally FDA-approved for these purposes but have shown promise in treating them:
- Management of restless legs syndrome
- Reduction in hot flashes associated with menopause and other hormonal changes
- Peripheral nerve pain
Gabapentin affects the neurotransmitters in the brain and nervous system, helping to reduce seizures and alleviate nerve-related pain. Due to its potential side effects and interactions with other medications, it’s crucial to use gabapentin only as prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Gabapentin is usually taken orally in the form of capsules, tablets, or oral solutions. The dosage and frequency depend on the treated condition, the patient’s age, kidney function, and response to treatment.
How Long Does Gabapentin Stay in Your System?
Testing for the presence of Gabapentin is usually conducted with urine sampling. Cost-effectiveness and ease of testing are the main drivers for testing this way.
Gabapentin can be detected in different parts of the body for varying lengths of time. Here’s a breakdown:
- Blood – detectable for up to 24 hours after the last dose
- Saliva – detectable for 1-2 days after the last dose
- Urine – detectable for 1-2 days after the last dose
- Hair – detectable for up to 90 days, though hair tests are not standard practice for Neurontin
Factors That Influence How Long Gabapentin Stays in Your System
A few variables are at play when considering how long gabapentin can be detected in your body. A few questions you may ask to help determine the length of time include:
- Are you a fast metabolizer? Individual metabolic rates vary, affecting how quickly MDMA is broken down and cleared from the body.
- How old are you? Metabolic rates generally slow with age, potentially increasing the time gabapentin stays in the system.
- Do you have healthy kidney function? Kidneys filter waste products from the body and produce urine; if this process is impaired, it can slow the body’s elimination of gabapentin.
- How much gabapentin was consumed? Higher doses can take longer to metabolize and eliminate.
- How often have you used gabapentin, and for how long? Regular users may retain this medication in their system longer due to cumulative exposure.
Gabapentin Half-Life
Gabapentin typically has a half-life of about 5 to 7 hours, meaning it takes around 5 to 7 hours for half of the drug to be eliminated from your system. To estimate how long it stays in your system, it generally takes around five half-lives for a drug to be mostly cleared from your body.
Kidney function significantly affects how quickly Neurontin is processed through your body–older adults with impaired renal function process at a much slower rate than younger, healthier individuals.
Gabapentin Withdrawal Symptoms
Despite a relatively benign side-effect profile, gabapentin is a medication that requires an intentional taper when stopping use. Tapering a drug or taking smaller doses over time can help alleviate potential withdrawal effects with a more comfortable experience.
Neurontin withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person. The intensity of the symptoms depends on how long the medication was used and the individual’s health.
Common gabapentin withdrawal symptoms include:
- Increased anxiety or depression
- Sleep disturbance
- Nausea and vomiting
- Body temperature regulation issues
- Muscle aches and cramps
- Increased irritability and mood swings
- Headaches
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Extreme tiredness or lethargy
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Seizures in rare cases
Self-Assessment: Am I Addicted?
Gabapentin Addiction Treatment
While gabapentin is regarded as a safe medication and prescribed widely, it doesn’t mean the risks for addiction and health concerns are non-existent. Over time, both physical and psychological dependence on gabapentin can build. As tolerance increases, negative health symptoms may also increase and interfere with your quality of life.
If you or a loved one is ready to take steps toward recovery from misuse of gabapentin, contact Vogue Recovery Center today. A member of our admissions team will help you learn more about the levels of care available in our treatment programs.
With locations in Las Vegas and Phoenix, Vogue Recovery Center can help you seek the care most suitable for your needs and circumstances and begin to rebuild a healthy foundation for lasting recovery.
References
- https://ejhp.bmj.com/content/22/Suppl_1/A84.3?utm_source=trendmd&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ejhp&utm_content=consumer&utm_term=0-A
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/020235s050,020882s035,021129s033lbl.pdf
- https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jgs.12427
Medically Reviewed by Kelsey Jones, MS, LPC
