I would do a medical reconciliation first to make sure that the pat As a PMHNP I would do a medical reconciliation first to make sure that the patients comorbidities are being addressed because gabapentin is used adjunctively and is not FDA approved for bipolar disorder. Although gabapentin is mostly prescribed for patients who experience neuropathic pain. gabapentin is FDA approved for focal seizures neuropathic pain fibromyalgia and post herpetic neuralgia (Cafer 2020). However Gabapentin is also prescribed for off label uses such as generalized anxiety social anxiety alcohol dependence and alcohol or benzo withdrawal (Cafer 2020). As mentioned in the scenario Gabapentin is sometimes used adjunctively for bipolar disorder research studies have shown that it has very little if any mood stabilizing efficacy but it does have anxiolytic properties. As a PMHNP no I would not prescribe gabapentin because it has proven to have very little affect on mood. However if the patient is experiencing chronic pain then I would refer them to their PCP or NP.
