In this article, I’m going to educate you on the combination of gabapentin and oxycodone. Many people have gotten mixed answers from doctors and articles on the internet about using gabapentin and oxycodone together.
Thus, I decided this would be a good subject to write about and end the confusion by bringing clarity to the topic.
So…can you take gabapentin and oxycodone together?
I’ll answer this question and provide you with reasons to back up my claims that come from:
- Years of Research
- Client Testimonials
- Doctors
- Drug Pharmacology
Most medications have black and white answers when it comes to their combinations. However, with gabapentin and oxycodone, it’s a gray area.
I’ll do my best to explain this in a simple way that makes sense.
To begin, let’s start with a brief overview of oxycodone, then I’ll provide an overview of gabapentin.
And after covering the basics on gabapentin and oxycodone, I’ll teach you about the interactions of these two drugs, and why some doctors say it’s dangerous, while other doctors commonly prescribe the two together.
Gabapentin and Oxycodone – Oxycodone Overview
Oxycodone is an opiate painkilling drug. Opiates are drugs that are derived from the opium poppy plant. Opioids are synthetic or natural drugs that do not originate from the opium poppy plant, however, they still bind to the same opioid receptors in the brain and body that opiates bind to, resulting in the same types of effects.
Oxycodone is commonly prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone attaches to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are located on nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, GI tract, and other organs.
Once oxycodone attaches to the opioid receptors, the oxycodone effects come on, which include, but are not limited to:
- Pain Relief
- Euphoria
- Sedation
- Constipation
- Nausea
Gabapentin and Oxycodone – Gabapentin Overview
Gabapentin, sold under the brand names Neurontin among others, is a prescription medication that was designed by chemists at Parke-Davis to be an analog of the neurotransmitter GABA that could more easily cross the blood-brain barrier, thus making the effects in the brain very significant.
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that acts as a mental relaxant. I often to refer to GABA as the “brain’s natural Valium.”
Gabapentin is commonly prescribed for the treatment of:
- Epilepsy
- Hot Flashes
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Neuropathic Pain
Gabapentin is also commonly prescribed for many off-label uses, such as the treatment of:
Gabapentin For Opiate Withdrawal
In addition to gabapentin being useful in the disorders mentioned above, multiple studies have shown significant benefits from using gabapentin for opiate withdrawal.
In fact, whenever I have coaching clients that have consultations with me, I always ask them if they have the ability to get gabapentin as it’s one of my favorite opiate withdrawal medications out of dozens I’ve studied.
Gabapentin and Oxycodone Taken Together
So now we’ve arrived at the section on using gabapentin and oxycodone together. To provide you with the best answer, I’m going to quote a passage from what I believe to be the most reliable source on the internet…Drugs.com, which states there is “Moderate” interaction between gabapentin and oxycodone.
Here is what this authority website states on the combination of gabapentin and oxycodone:
“Using oxycodone together with gabapentin may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. “
Gabapentin and oxycodone are both central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Gabapentin and oxycodone by themselves can both cause respiratory depression and used together, this results in synergy.
Gabapentin/oxycodone synergy is when the combined effect is greater than the sum of the effects of these two CNS depressants.
When you combine two CNS depressants, in this case, gabapentin and oxycodone, this significantly increases the chances of respiratory depression and can ultimately lead to death from your body not breathing anymore.
However, it can be safe to use gabapentin and oxycodone together.
Why?
Because your doctor can adjust your doses of medication and frequently monitor you to make sure your body does okay with the combination of gabapentin and oxycodone.
Gabapentin and Oxycodone – Final Thoughts
Now you’ve been educated on the combination of gabapentin and oxycodone. Again, Drugs.com states that there is a “Moderate” interaction between these two drugs.
The website defines Moderate as:
“Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.”
However, the website also states “Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications.”
As long as you’re under the care of a competent doctor, using gabapentin and oxycodone together can be totally safe. Always listen to your body and start off with low dosages then work your way up when combining gabapentin and oxycodone.
If you have any comments or questions on using gabapentin and oxycodone together, please post them in the comment box below. Take care, and be safe.
I take 300mg of oxycodone a day for severe arthritus all over which ive been on for 15yrs, and my mental health Dr prescribed 100mg of Gabapentin twice a day . I am worryed about taking the Gabapentin with my Oxy. will I go into Respetory failure or other side effects?
I am 71. Highly responsible with my meds to the point where if I can’t remember the last time I took oxycodone, I will wait an additional 4-5 hours before taking another.
I just overdosed. I was able to get my husband’s attention and was able to say “ambulance” before becoming semi conscious. I was unable to speak or react when the ambulance arrived. Yet, I knew they were here and could hear them asking my husband those initial questions.
I was given Naloxone en route to the hospital. Now that was the most horrific experience I’ve ever had. I felt the medication going in my arm through the IV. Immediately I felt the sensation of molten lava going through my entire body. It got worse from there but I won’t go into detail. I do wonder what experiences others have had with this drug.
It did its job! However, It took six hours before the extreme thrashing from muscle spasms, stopped.
I take 300 mg Gabapentin three times a day. I can take 10.324 mg Oxycodone up to four times a day. Usually I only take two. These, along with other drugs help with rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, Addisons A and B, Sjogrens and a fifth autoimmune disease they found during my monthly bloodwork in August.
I have also taken (rarely) a muscle relaxer and recently cold and allergy meds. I recently got an allergy steroid injection. I also take Cimzia each month. I take medication to control my platelet levels because I just developed that problem. I now see an oncologist once a month along with monthly visits to my rheumatologist and pain doctor. I also see my primary doctor often.
Two days before the respiratory depression occurred, I felt so odd and “off” that I actually mentioned it to my husband. I felt unbalanced or a little outside of myself. That is the best way I can describe it. Now I believe it was my body telling me something was building up. Who knows?
I don’t believe I took an overdose or multiple oxycodone. I’m looking for answers as to why this happened Wednesday morning. I’m requesting copies of all my labs tomorrow (Monday). I’m also going to see my pain doctor…. but honestly, I have researched my meds more than they seem to. On several occasions they wanted me to take something that was concerning When I asked about side effects, they researched it in front of me. They also failed to mention the Cimzia injection could trigger platelet increase and leukemia. I learned that the hard way.
I applaud you for getting through this epistle!
I have been using Gabapentin 600 mg bid with Percocet 10 mg qid for over 4 years , without any comp!ications. I am 74 was a victim of a home invasion and was beaten with a baseball bat requiring a 12 hr reconstructive surgery by an orthopedic trauma surgeon ! That was over 4 years ago.I was in physical therapy for a year, learning to walk again. ! Without these 2 meds, I don’t think my recovery would have been feasible.
hi Wayne my surgery I had to replace a battery and leads in my spine left me with sciatic nerve pain along with my upper left leg numb as can be so I take oxycodone for that and other legs issues and I take Gabapentin for anxiety and also for the itching of my body from the nerve damage but I noticed if I take the two close together the itching get worse and the oxycodone dose not work that well. have you heard of that happening and how can I take both at night without that happening
I suffer from severe neuropathy in both legs’ caused by triple arthrodesis operations fusing my ankles. I also suffer from severe chronic migraines so I was prescribed both medications. I suffered a hip infection and was told by the Doctor to take the Oxycodone I was already prescribed. So I took the oxy and gabapentin at the same time and the unintended result was the gabapentin would reduce the neuropathy to 3 on the pain scale but I always felt I had neuropathy in my legs! The oxy with the gab reduced the pain to a zero and my legs felt as though I never even had the neuropathy at all. I told my doctor and he immediately upped my dosage of oxy to take when I took the gab at the same time. For me this has been a true miracle and a positive outcome using narcotics that you NEVER hear about! Its always bad news all the time. Glad I could tell my story so that others in my situation may benefit!!
Hello, Thank you for your explanation on the Gab/Oxy dilemma. 12 years ago I blew a disc and had surgery. It had damaged my sciatic nerve so I got phantom pains. My dr. put me on 1800mg of Gab a day and 4 10mg oxy per day for back pain. I was on it for years. I got what they thought was severe asthma. After a while of this I weened myself completely off Gab and only took Oxy when I absolutely had to. I’m still having respiratory problems and wonder if those two could of caused permanent damage. I’m not looking for a lawsuit. I would just like to find if there is something to make it better. Inhalers don’t help at all. Thank You Very Much, Wayne
I have severe spinal stenosis (L4,L5)as well as Parkinsons and Restless Arm Syndrome (RAS) in my left Arm as well as chronic episodes of Fibromyalgia. I was on 3X to 5X Oxycodone (5mg IR) until recently the doctor prescribed 3x 300mg of Gabapentin for the RAS. It helped a bit with the 24/7 leg pain and RAS. I take the Oxycodone more than 4 hours after Gabapentin. The combination of the two makes life bearable. I still have severe insomnia but usually fall asleep a couple of hours after taking the Oxycodone which is usually between 2 and 4AM. PM Gabapentin does not make me sleepy.
I’ve had a severe case of RLS since childhood . I’ve tried many things . I somehow ended up in pain management taking Subutex or suboxone whatever…….. unbelievable ……. its as I almost never had a problem. I’ve been diagnosed several times as an extreme case accompanied w pain. I’m here to say to the whole world and anyone that’s felt the phantom pains and electrifying volts thru legs and arms that I have ,this is an answer. I almost never ever have a episode .if I do its because I missed a few doses of meds.
Unreal. I was prescribed both of these in high doses and the PM doctor, psychiatrist and GP never said a word after explained that I felt absolutely horrible. Thanks Matt!
That’s awful!!! Glad you found out why you felt bad finally!