Can I take gabapentin while pregnant or breastfeeding?

A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about gabapentin.

In short

Pregnancy: Gabapentin is not generally recommended in pregnancy, because there isn't enough information to know whether it's safe for your baby.

Breastfeeding: Gabapentin can be taken while breastfeeding as long as your baby is healthy, but speak to your doctor or pharmacist first.

Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.

What this means for you

Pregnancy

Breastfeeding

When to get help

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist

This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

The details: what each source says

Gabapentin in pregnancy

The NHS says

Gabapentin is not generally recommended in pregnancy, because there isn't enough information to know whether it's safe for your baby.

That said, the limited information available shows no clear evidence of harm. Gabapentin should only be taken if its benefits outweigh the possible risks.

If you take gabapentin for epilepsy, keeping it well controlled during pregnancy is important, because seizures can harm you and your baby. Carry on taking gabapentin, but speak to your doctor urgently, as they may suggest changing to another medicine.

If you're trying for a baby or have become pregnant while taking gabapentin, it's recommended that you take high-dose folic acid, which you can get from your doctor or midwife.

Ideally, you'll have started the high-dose folic acid 3 months before trying to conceive, and carry on with it for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you did not take it before getting pregnant, try not to worry, but start it as soon as you know you're pregnant. It helps your baby grow normally.

If you take gabapentin around the time you give birth, extra monitoring may be needed for your baby for a few days after birth, because they may have withdrawal symptoms from gabapentin.

The long-term effects of gabapentin in pregnancy on a child's learning and development are not known. For safety reasons, you'll usually be advised to take gabapentin only when its benefits outweigh the risks. Talk the benefits and risks through with your doctor.

In our words, from the NHS page Gabapentin (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.

What these words mean

embryofetal
about the embryo and fetus (a baby's early stages of growing in the womb)

Definitions adapted from the NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms (National Cancer Institute).

The US drug label says

8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Exposure Registry There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), such as gabapentin tablets, during pregnancy. Encourage women who are taking gabapentin tablets during pregnancy to enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry by calling the toll-free number 1-888-233-2334 or visiting http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/ . Risk Summary The totality of available data from published prospective and retrospective cohort studies pertaining to gabapentin use during pregnancy has not indicated an increased risk of major birth defects or miscarriage. There are important methodological limitations hindering interpretation of these studies [see Data] . In nonclinical studies in mice, rats, and rabbits, gabapentin was developmentally toxic (increased fetal skeletal and visceral abnormalities, and increased embryofetal mortality) when administered to pregnant animals at doses similar to or lower than those used clinically [see Data] .

Prescribing label, section “8.1 Pregnancy” (opening excerpt): Gabapentin (oral), Clinical Solutions Wholesale, LLC. Read the full section on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.

More on gabapentin in pregnancy: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet (external site).

Gabapentin while breastfeeding

The NHS says

Gabapentin can be taken while breastfeeding as long as your baby is healthy, but speak to your doctor or pharmacist first.

Carrying on with gabapentin is important to keep you well, and breastfeeding also has benefits for both you and your baby.

Very small amounts of gabapentin get into breast milk, and it has not been known to cause side effects in breastfed babies. Even so, it's important to keep an eye on your baby while you take any medicine and breastfeed.

Contact a healthcare professional or call 111 (in the UK) as soon as you can if your baby: is not feeding as well as they usually do or not gaining weight as expected; seems more irritable than normal; is unusually sleepy; has an upset stomach, for example diarrhoea, constipation or vomiting; or has a rash.

If your baby has any other symptoms, or you're worried about them, you can still call 111 or get in touch with any healthcare professional.

Until you've had advice about your baby's symptoms, keep taking gabapentin and carry on breastfeeding as normal.

While you're taking gabapentin, it's important that you do not sleep in the same bed as your baby.

In our words, from the NHS page Gabapentin (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.

LactMed says

Limited information indicates that maternal doses of gabapentin up to 2.1 grams daily produce relatively low levels in infant serum. Monitor the infant for drowsiness, adequate weight gain, and developmental milestones, especially in younger, exclusively breastfed infants and when using combinations of anticonvulsant or psychotropic drugs. A single oral dose of either 300 mg or 600 mg given to the mother before cesarean section appeared to have no effect on breastfeeding initiation.[1] An expert consensus guideline indicates that gabapentin is an acceptable choice for refractory restless leg syndrome during lactation.[2]

“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Gabapentin” (LM358), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Gabapentin while breastfeeding.

The US prescribing label says

8.2 Lactation Risk Summary Gabapentin is secreted in human milk following oral administration. The effects on the breastfed infant and on milk production are unknown. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for gabapentin and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from gabapentin or from the underlying maternal condition.

Prescribing label, section “8.2 Lactation”: Gabapentin (oral), Clinical Solutions Wholesale, LLC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.

Sources

  1. NHS, Gabapentin (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 19 February 2026. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. US drug label: Gabapentin (oral), Clinical Solutions Wholesale, LLC, human prescription drug, label effective 9 September 2026, set ID b7f9a106-52c6-49e4-acf5-8fb07761ba4f. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
  3. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Gabapentin” (LM358), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  4. Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy), UK Teratology Information Service: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet. Linked, not reproduced.

Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.

Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.