Is it safe to take Gabapentin if I use coconut oil daily, and does coconut oil affect Gabapentin’s absorption or increase the risk of side effects?

Gabapentin and coconut oil: what we know Based on available human data, there is no evidence that coconut oil interferes with gabapentin’s absorption or increases its side effects, and it is generally considered safe to use coconut oil while taking gabapentin. The main documented food-related considerations for gabapentin are: 1) certain antacids with aluminum/magnesium reduce its absorption, and 2) for a different product (gabapentin enacarbil, a prodrug), food can increase exposure; these do not implicate coconut oil specifically. Antacids containing aluminum and magnesium hydroxides can lower gabapentin’s bioavailability by about 20%, particularly if taken together. ^[1] This reduction is smaller (about 10%) if gabapentin is taken 2 hours after the antacid. ^[2] For gabapentin enacarbil (not standard gabapentin), taking it with meals whether low-, moderate-, or high-fat increases the resulting gabapentin exposure compared with fasting. ^[3]

Key points at a glance

• Coconut oil: No direct interaction with gabapentin has been identified in prescribing information or clinical studies. ^[1]
• Antacids to watch: Aluminum/magnesium hydroxide antacids can reduce gabapentin absorption; separate dosing by at least 2 hours is advised. ^[2]
• Food effects: Standard gabapentin is not meaningfully affected by typical meals, while the prodrug gabapentin enacarbil shows higher exposure with food; this is a different formulation with different instructions. ^[3]
• CNS depressants: Alcohol and sedating drugs can add to gabapentin-related sleepiness or dizziness; this is unrelated to coconut oil. ^[4]

Does coconut oil affect gabapentin absorption?

There is no clinical or labeling evidence that coconut oil (or dietary fats in typical amounts) reduces the absorption of standard gabapentin. ^[1] In contrast, the only consistent absorption interaction for standard gabapentin is with aluminum/magnesium antacids, which reduce its bioavailability. ^[5] For context, a separate formulation, gabapentin enacarbil, shows increased systemic exposure when taken with meals regardless of fat content, but this finding applies to the prodrug, not to standard gabapentin capsules or tablets. ^[3]

Does coconut oil increase the risk of gabapentin side effects?

Gabapentin’s common side effects include sleepiness and dizziness, and these can be worsened when taken with alcohol or other sedating medicines, not with dietary fats like coconut oil. ^[6] There is no established link between coconut oil intake and increased gabapentin side effects in human data or labeling. ^[7]

Practical advice for taking gabapentin

• You can generally continue coconut oil as part of your diet while taking gabapentin. ^[1]
• If you use antacids containing aluminum or magnesium (for example, many “Maalox-type” products), take gabapentin at least 2 hours after the antacid to limit reduced absorption. ^[8]
• Be cautious with alcohol or other sedating medications (like certain sleep aids or opioids), which can heighten gabapentin-related drowsiness or dizziness. ^[4]
• Follow your specific product’s instructions: standard gabapentin can be taken with or without food; gabapentin enacarbil has distinct food guidance and should be taken with food as labeled. ^[3]

What official sources say

• Antacids containing aluminum/magnesium reduce gabapentin bioavailability by about 20%; spacing doses by 2 hours lessens the impact. ^{[1] [2]}
• With gabapentin enacarbil, food increases overall exposure versus fasting, regardless of fat content, highlighting a formulation-specific difference not attributable to coconut oil itself. ^[3]
• Sedation risk increases with alcohol or other CNS depressants while using gabapentin, but dietary fats are not cited as a risk factor. ^[4]

Bottom line

• There is no evidence that coconut oil negatively affects standard gabapentin’s absorption or increases its side effects, so daily coconut oil use is generally compatible with gabapentin. ^[1]
• The interaction to prioritize is avoiding simultaneous intake with aluminum/magnesium antacids; separate by at least 2 hours to maintain absorption. ^[2]
• If your prescription is for gabapentin enacarbil (a different product), taking it with food increases exposure, but this is a formulation-specific instruction and not a coconut oil hazard. ^[3]

Would you like me to check your exact gabapentin product (standard gabapentin vs. gabapentin enacarbil) and how you currently take it to give you a personalized timing plan?