Gabapentin
Neurontin (human) · generic gabapentin
Gabapentin is one of the most prescribed medicines in small-animal practice, for chronic pain, nerve pain, seizures and, in cats, for anxiety before vet visits. It is a human generic, so a vet’s prescription can be filled at an ordinary pharmacy, with one important caution about the liquid.
What it is used for
Gabapentin is not approved for animals, so veterinarians prescribe it off-label, which is legal and routine for human drugs in veterinary medicine. In dogs it is used alongside anti-inflammatories for arthritis and after surgery, for nerve pain such as disc disease, and as an add-on for seizures. In cats it has become the standard way to reduce stress for a car journey or a clinic visit, given a couple of hours beforehand, and it is used for chronic pain in older cats.
The capsules and tablets dispensed for people are the same product a vet prescribes; the vet sets the dose by weight and the pharmacy dispenses the human strength that fits. Sedation and wobbliness are the usual effects, more marked at the start, and the dose is reduced in animals with poor kidney function. It should not be stopped suddenly after long-term use for seizures.
Safety points that differ from human use
- Many human liquid gabapentin products are sweetened with xylitol, which is poisonous to dogs even in small amounts. For a dog, a vet will prescribe capsules or tablets, or a liquid compounded without xylitol; never give a dog a human liquid without checking the ingredients with the pharmacist.
- Doses for pets are set by weight and can be far from a human dose; never adjust a dose without the vet.
- Sedation adds to that of opioids, trazodone and other sedatives; tell the vet about everything the animal takes.
- Capsules
- Tablets
- Oral solution (human product, often contains xylitol)
- Compounded suspensions and small-dose capsules for cats
- 100, 300 and 400 mg capsules
- 600 and 800 mg tablets
- Compounded strengths to the vet’s prescription
Cats and small dogs often need doses smaller than the smallest human capsule, which is why compounding pharmacies make low-strength capsules and flavoured suspensions.
Why the cash price varies
Gabapentin capsules are among the cheapest generics in a pharmacy, so for a dog on standard human strengths the cash price is mostly the dispensing fee, and chains and independents price it very differently. A compounded suspension or custom capsule for a cat is a made-to-order product with pharmacist time in it, so it costs more and varies by compounder.
Gabapentin is a controlled substance in some states, which limits transfers and quantities there; the pharmacy can tell you whether that applies.
How to pay less
- Ask the vet whether a standard human strength and a ninety-day supply are appropriate for your dog.
- For a cat, ask the vet whether capsules that can be opened and divided would do before paying for a compounded preparation.
- Ask whether gabapentin is on the pharmacy’s flat-price generic list.
- Upload the prescription to Script Unlock so licensed pharmacies, including compounding pharmacies, can quote. You pay the pharmacy directly.
Questions for your vet
- Is this dose for pain, seizures or stress, and how long before a visit should I give it?
- Can I use a human capsule or tablet, or does my pet need a compounded strength?
- If a liquid is prescribed, is it free of xylitol?
- What should I do if my pet is too sedated or wobbly?
- Can it be stopped suddenly if we no longer need it?
Rules on refills, transfers and controlled substances differ by state; see pharmacy rules by state.
How Script Unlock gets you a cash price for your pet’s gabapentin prescription
Prices on this site come from pharmacies responding to a real prescription. We do not publish estimated, average or "typical" prices, because none of those would be your price.
- 1You upload your prescription
A photo of your your pet’s gabapentin prescription prescription is enough. Nothing is sold on the site; you are asking pharmacies to quote.
- 2Licensed pharmacies respond
Pharmacies that Script Unlock has verified see the request and each can reply with its own cash price for your exact drug, strength and quantity.
- 3You choose and pay the pharmacy
You compare the responses, pick a pharmacy, and pay that pharmacy directly when you collect. Script Unlock never takes a patient payment and never sets the price.
Related pet medications
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control
- FDA Orange Book (approved generics and therapeutic equivalence)
- MedlinePlus drug information (National Library of Medicine)
Written by the Script Unlock editorial team from the sources above. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian or veterinary pharmacist. Last checked 2026-10-03. Nothing here replaces your vet\u2019s directions; doses for animals are set by weight and species.
Script Unlock is a marketplace that lets licensed pharmacies quote a cash price on your prescription. It does not prescribe, dispense or sell medication, does not process patient payments, and does not give medical advice. Always follow the instructions of your prescriber and pharmacist and read the medication guide supplied with your medicine.