Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant and nerve pain medication. Its presence in urine drug screenings is not routinely detected. Standard drug tests are typically designed to identify substances of abuse, and gabapentin generally does not fall into this category.
The limited inclusion in standard screenings stems from its non-narcotic nature and relatively low potential for abuse compared to opioids or benzodiazepines. Historically, testing for this medication was infrequent due to these factors and the associated costs of expanding drug screening panels. However, changing patterns of prescription and potential for misuse are altering this landscape.