Is gabapentin a controlled substance? Every state, 2026
Checked against each state’s rules: October 2026
Short answer
Gabapentin is not a controlled substance under federal law. As of October 2026, seven states classify it as a Schedule V controlled substance: Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, North Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Several other states do not schedule it but require pharmacies to report every gabapentin prescription to their prescription monitoring program.
Gabapentin status in every state
Each row comes from that state’s pharmacy rules guide, which cites the state’s own sources. Where a guide confirms that gabapentin must be reported to the monitoring program without being scheduled, the table says so; other states may also monitor it, and the state guide explains the detail.
- AlabamaControlled substance (Schedule V)Alabama Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- AlaskaNot a controlled substanceAlaska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- ArizonaNot a controlled substanceArizona Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program
- ArkansasNot a controlled substanceArkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- CaliforniaNot a controlled substanceCURES (California Department of Justice)
- ColoradoNot a controlled substanceColorado Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- ConnecticutNot a controlled substanceConnecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS)
- DelawareNot a controlled substanceDelaware Prescription Monitoring Program
- FloridaNot a controlled substanceE-FORCSE (Florida Department of Health)
- GeorgiaNot a controlled substanceGeorgia Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- HawaiiNot a controlled substanceHawaii Narcotics Enforcement Division
- IdahoNot a controlled substanceIdaho Prescription Monitoring Program
- IllinoisNot a controlled substanceIllinois Prescription Monitoring Program
- IndianaNot a controlled substance, but reported to the monitoring programINSPECT
- IowaNot a controlled substanceIowa Prescription Monitoring Program
- KansasNot a controlled substanceKansas prescription monitoring program (K-TRACS)
- KentuckyControlled substance (Schedule V)KASPER
- LouisianaNot a controlled substanceLouisiana Prescription Monitoring Program
- MaineNot a controlled substanceMaine Prescription Monitoring Program
- MarylandNot a controlled substanceMaryland Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- MassachusettsNot a controlled substance, but reported to the monitoring programMassachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool (MassPAT)
- MichiganControlled substance (Schedule V)Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS)
- MinnesotaNot a controlled substanceMinnesota Prescription Monitoring Program
- MississippiNot a controlled substanceMississippi Prescription Monitoring Program
- MissouriNot a controlled substanceMissouri Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- MontanaNot a controlled substanceMontana Prescription Drug Registry
- NebraskaNot a controlled substanceNebraska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- NevadaNot a controlled substanceNevada Prescription Monitoring Program
- New HampshireNot a controlled substanceNew Hampshire Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- New JerseyNot a controlled substanceNew Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program
- New MexicoNot a controlled substanceNew Mexico Prescription Monitoring Program
- New YorkNot a controlled substanceBureau of Narcotic Enforcement and PMP (New York State Department of Health)
- North CarolinaNot a controlled substanceNC Controlled Substances Reporting System
- North DakotaControlled substance (Schedule V)North Dakota Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- OhioNot a controlled substance, but reported to the monitoring programOhio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS)
- OklahomaNot a controlled substanceOklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program (OBNDD)
- OregonNot a controlled substanceOregon Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- PennsylvaniaNot a controlled substancePennsylvania Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- Rhode IslandNot a controlled substanceRhode Island Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- South CarolinaNot a controlled substanceSouth Carolina prescription monitoring program (SCRIPTS)
- South DakotaNot a controlled substanceSouth Dakota Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- TennesseeControlled substance (Schedule V)Tennessee Controlled Substance Monitoring Database
- TexasNot a controlled substance, but reported to the monitoring programTexas Prescription Monitoring Program
- UtahNot a controlled substanceUtah Controlled Substance Database
- VermontNot a controlled substanceVermont Prescription Monitoring System
- VirginiaControlled substance (Schedule V)Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program
- WashingtonNot a controlled substanceWashington Prescription Monitoring Program
- Washington, D.C.Not a controlled substanceDC Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- West VirginiaControlled substance (Schedule V)West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring Program
- WisconsinNot a controlled substanceWisconsin Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- WyomingNot a controlled substanceWyoming Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
| State | Gabapentin status | Monitoring program |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Controlled substance (Schedule V) | Alabama Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Alaska | Not a controlled substance | Alaska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Arizona | Not a controlled substance | Arizona Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Arkansas | Not a controlled substance | Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| California | Not a controlled substance | CURES (California Department of Justice) |
| Colorado | Not a controlled substance | Colorado Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Connecticut | Not a controlled substance | Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS) |
| Delaware | Not a controlled substance | Delaware Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Florida | Not a controlled substance | E-FORCSE (Florida Department of Health) |
| Georgia | Not a controlled substance | Georgia Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Hawaii | Not a controlled substance | Hawaii Narcotics Enforcement Division |
| Idaho | Not a controlled substance | Idaho Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Illinois | Not a controlled substance | Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Indiana | Not a controlled substance, but reported to the monitoring program | INSPECT |
| Iowa | Not a controlled substance | Iowa Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Kansas | Not a controlled substance | Kansas prescription monitoring program (K-TRACS) |
| Kentucky | Controlled substance (Schedule V) | KASPER |
| Louisiana | Not a controlled substance | Louisiana Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Maine | Not a controlled substance | Maine Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Maryland | Not a controlled substance | Maryland Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Massachusetts | Not a controlled substance, but reported to the monitoring program | Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool (MassPAT) |
| Michigan | Controlled substance (Schedule V) | Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) |
| Minnesota | Not a controlled substance | Minnesota Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Mississippi | Not a controlled substance | Mississippi Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Missouri | Not a controlled substance | Missouri Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Montana | Not a controlled substance | Montana Prescription Drug Registry |
| Nebraska | Not a controlled substance | Nebraska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Nevada | Not a controlled substance | Nevada Prescription Monitoring Program |
| New Hampshire | Not a controlled substance | New Hampshire Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| New Jersey | Not a controlled substance | New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program |
| New Mexico | Not a controlled substance | New Mexico Prescription Monitoring Program |
| New York | Not a controlled substance | Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement and PMP (New York State Department of Health) |
| North Carolina | Not a controlled substance | NC Controlled Substances Reporting System |
| North Dakota | Controlled substance (Schedule V) | North Dakota Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Ohio | Not a controlled substance, but reported to the monitoring program | Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS) |
| Oklahoma | Not a controlled substance | Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program (OBNDD) |
| Oregon | Not a controlled substance | Oregon Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Pennsylvania | Not a controlled substance | Pennsylvania Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Rhode Island | Not a controlled substance | Rhode Island Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| South Carolina | Not a controlled substance | South Carolina prescription monitoring program (SCRIPTS) |
| South Dakota | Not a controlled substance | South Dakota Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Tennessee | Controlled substance (Schedule V) | Tennessee Controlled Substance Monitoring Database |
| Texas | Not a controlled substance, but reported to the monitoring program | Texas Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Utah | Not a controlled substance | Utah Controlled Substance Database |
| Vermont | Not a controlled substance | Vermont Prescription Monitoring System |
| Virginia | Controlled substance (Schedule V) | Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Washington | Not a controlled substance | Washington Prescription Monitoring Program |
| Washington, D.C. | Not a controlled substance | DC Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| West Virginia | Controlled substance (Schedule V) | West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring Program |
| Wisconsin | Not a controlled substance | Wisconsin Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Wyoming | Not a controlled substance | Wyoming Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
Why some states control gabapentin
Gabapentin is approved by the FDA for seizures and for nerve pain after shingles, and it is widely prescribed for other kinds of nerve pain. It has never been placed on the federal schedules, but its relative pregabalin (Lyrica) is a federal Schedule V controlled substance. States began scheduling or monitoring gabapentin after reports of misuse, most often alongside opioids, where the combination can slow breathing.
In December 2019 the FDA warned that gabapentin and pregabalin can cause serious breathing problems in people with respiratory risk factors, including people taking opioids or other medicines that depress the central nervous system, older adults, and people with lung disease. States have responded in two ways: scheduling it, which brings it under the full controlled-substance rules, or requiring pharmacies to report it to the state’s prescription monitoring program, which lets prescribers and pharmacists see a patient’s history without changing how it is prescribed.
What changes for you in a state that schedules it
In Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, North Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, a gabapentin prescription is handled like other Schedule V medicines under state law. In practice that means the following, although the exact rules differ from state to state.
- The prescriber must be registered to prescribe controlled substances, and the prescription must include the details state law requires.
- State rules can limit how many refills are allowed and how long a prescription stays valid.
- Transfers between pharmacies can be restricted, so asking your prescriber for a new prescription is sometimes the quicker way to change pharmacy.
- Every fill is reported to the state’s monitoring program, and your pharmacist may check your history before filling.
- Some pharmacies ask for photo ID when you collect a controlled substance.
None of this changes how gabapentin works or whether it is right for you. If you are moving between states, or filling a prescription written in another state, ask the pharmacist before you run low, since a prescription valid in one state may need extra checks in another.
States that monitor without scheduling
Several states that do not schedule gabapentin still require pharmacies to report each gabapentin prescription to the monitoring program, including Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio and Texas. For patients, little changes: refills, transfers and prescription validity follow the ordinary rules, but your prescriber and pharmacist can see your gabapentin history alongside controlled medicines.
For pet owners
Gabapentin is one of the most common medicines vets prescribe for dogs and cats, for pain, seizures and anxiety before vet visits. The same state rules apply when a vet prescribes it. In a state that schedules gabapentin, the vet must be registered to prescribe controlled substances and keep the records state law requires, and a pharmacy that fills the prescription handles it as a controlled substance, which can affect refills and transfers just as it does for people.
Two safety points matter more than the paperwork. Some human gabapentin liquids contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs, so use a liquid only if your vet or pharmacist confirms it is xylitol-free. And pet doses are worked out by weight, so never give a pet gabapentin prescribed for a person. Our guide to gabapentin for dogs and cats covers dosing practicalities and side effects.
Is the list changing?
States revisit gabapentin from time to time. In March 2026, for example, Alaska’s Controlled Substances Advisory Committee discussed whether to schedule it, weighing misuse concerns against the effect on patients who rely on it for pain. Federal scheduling has been proposed in the past but has not happened. We recheck the state rules regularly; if you need certainty for a prescription today, your pharmacist or the state board of pharmacy has the final word.
Paying for gabapentin
Gabapentin is an inexpensive generic, but cash prices still differ between pharmacies, and scheduling does not change what a pharmacy can charge. On Script Unlock, licensed pharmacies quote their own cash price for your prescription, and you choose one and pay the pharmacy directly. Our gabapentin guide explains how it is taken, missed doses and interactions.
Frequently asked questions
Is gabapentin a federally controlled substance?
No. Gabapentin has never been scheduled by the DEA. Its relative pregabalin (Lyrica) is a federal Schedule V controlled substance, which is part of why states have looked at gabapentin.
Which states classify gabapentin as a controlled substance?
As of October 2026: Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, North Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, each as Schedule V. The table on this page links to each state’s full guide.
Is gabapentin a narcotic?
No. It is an anticonvulsant used for seizures and nerve pain. Some states control it because of misuse, especially in combination with opioids, not because it is a narcotic.
Does scheduling change my refills?
It can. In states that schedule gabapentin, state controlled-substance rules apply, which can limit refills, how long a prescription stays valid, and transfers between pharmacies. Your pharmacist can tell you how they apply to your prescription.
Can my vet prescribe gabapentin for my dog or cat in a state that controls it?
Yes. The vet must be registered to prescribe controlled substances and follow the state’s record rules, and a pharmacy that fills the prescription handles it as a controlled substance.
How current is this list?
It was checked against each state’s rules in October 2026. States revisit gabapentin from time to time, so confirm with your pharmacist or the state board of pharmacy if a change may be recent.
Related
Sources
- eCFR, 21 CFR 1308.15, Schedule V (lists pregabalin, not gabapentin)
- FDA, Drug Safety Communications (December 2019 gabapentinoid breathing warning)
- DailyMed, gabapentin prescribing information
- Alaska Controlled Substances Advisory Committee, minutes of March 26, 2026
- Each state’s guide, linked in the table, lists that state’s board of pharmacy and monitoring program sources.