Drug cluster · 12 substances
Gabapentinoids, dissociatives, and others list
This cluster groups medicines with distinctive actions: gabapentinoids for nerve pain and seizures, dissociative anesthetics used in surgery and depression, sodium oxybate for narcolepsy, and synthetic THC.
Gabapentin and pregabalin add to opioid overdose risk; the FDA warned in 2019 about serious breathing problems when they are combined with opioids or other sedatives. Ketamine and esketamine are Schedule III. Sodium oxybate is the medical form of GHB, available only through a restricted pharmacy program.
Also profiled on DoseUses in this cluster: Brivaracetam, Cenobamate, Dextromethorphan, Lacosamide, Nitrous oxide, and Zuranolone.
Compare the gabapentinoids, dissociatives, and others at a glance
| Substance | Also known as | Type | US status | Medical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brivaracetam | Briviact | Antiseizure medicine (SV2A ligand) | Schedule V | Partial-onset seizures |
| Cenobamate | Xcopri | Antiseizure medicine | Schedule V | Partial-onset seizures (adults) |
| Dextromethorphan | DXM, Robitussin DM, Delsym | Cough suppressant; NMDA receptor antagonist at high doses | Not federally controlled | Cough; depression (with bupropion); pseudobulbar affect (with quinidine) |
| Dronabinol | Marinol, Syndros | Synthetic cannabinoid (THC) | Schedule III | Chemotherapy nausea; AIDS appetite loss |
| Esketamine | Spravato | NMDA receptor antagonist (nasal) | Schedule III | Treatment-resistant depression |
| Gabapentin | Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant | Gabapentinoid | Not federally controlled | Shingles pain; seizures; restless legs |
| Ketamine | Ketalar | Dissociative anesthetic (NMDA receptor antagonist) | Schedule III | Anesthesia; off-label depression |
| Lacosamide | Vimpat, Motpoly XR | Antiseizure medicine (sodium channel modulator) | Schedule V | Partial-onset and generalized tonic-clonic seizures |
| Nitrous oxide | Laughing gas, N2O | Inhaled dissociative anesthetic gas | Not federally controlled | Dental and medical anesthesia; pain relief in labor |
| Pregabalin | Lyrica, Lyrica CR | Gabapentinoid | Schedule V | Nerve pain; fibromyalgia; seizures |
| Sodium oxybate | Xyrem, Xywav, Lumryz | CNS depressant (GHB salt) | Schedule III | Narcolepsy; idiopathic hypersomnia |
| Zuranolone | Zurzuvae | Neuroactive steroid (GABA-A receptor modulator) | Schedule IV | Postpartum depression |
Brivaracetam
Briviact
Brivaracetam (Briviact) is a prescription antiseizure medicine for partial-onset seizures in people 1 month and older.
Read profileCenobamate
Xcopri
Cenobamate (Xcopri) is a prescription antiseizure medicine for partial-onset seizures in adults, approved in 2019.
Read profileDextromethorphan
DXM, Robitussin DM, Delsym
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is the cough suppressant in many over-the-counter medicines, such as Delsym, Robitussin DM, and NyQuil.
Read profileDronabinol
Marinol, Syndros
Dronabinol (Marinol) is synthetic THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, made as an FDA-approved medicine.
Read profileEsketamine
Spravato
Esketamine (Spravato) is a nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression and for depression with suicidal thoughts.
Read profileGabapentin
Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant
Gabapentin (Neurontin) is one of the most prescribed medicines in the US, approved for shingles nerve pain, partial seizures, and (as Horizant) restless legs syndrome.
Read profileKetamine
Ketalar
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used in operating rooms, emergency departments, and battlefield medicine.
Read profileLacosamide
Vimpat, Motpoly XR
Lacosamide (Vimpat) is a prescription antiseizure medicine for partial-onset seizures and, as add-on therapy, generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Read profileNitrous oxide
Laughing gas, N2O, Whippets
Nitrous oxide is a gas used in dentistry and as a whipped-cream propellant.
Read profilePregabalin
Lyrica, Lyrica CR
Pregabalin (Lyrica) is a nerve pain and antiseizure medicine used for diabetic nerve pain, shingles pain, fibromyalgia, spinal cord injury pain, and partial seizures.
Read profileSodium oxybate
Xyrem, Xywav, Lumryz
Sodium oxybate (Xyrem) is the sodium salt of GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), used to treat cataplexy and daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy.
Read profileZuranolone
Zurzuvae
Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) is the first pill approved specifically for postpartum depression, taken once a day for 14 days.
Read profile