Can I take gabapentin with yogurt, or does the calcium in dairy interfere with its absorption or effectiveness?

You can take gabapentin with yogurt, and typical dietary calcium in dairy does not meaningfully interfere with gabapentin’s absorption or effectiveness. Official patient guidance states gabapentin can be taken “with or without food,” and the key interaction to avoid is with antacids that contain aluminum or magnesium, which can lower gabapentin absorption. ^[1] Gabapentin labels consistently advise separating gabapentin from aluminum/magnesium antacids by at least 2 hours because these antacids reduce gabapentin bioavailability. ^[2]

What does interfere with gabapentin?

• Aluminum/magnesium antacids: These products can reduce the amount of gabapentin your body absorbs. In studies, co‑administration with magnesium/aluminum antacids reduced gabapentin bioavailability by about 20–40%, so a 2‑hour separation is recommended. ^{[3] [4]} This guidance appears across multiple official manufacturer inserts and consumer medication guides. ^{[5] [6]}
• Magnesium oxide (a specific antacid): Controlled human studies showed significant drops in peak levels and overall exposure when gabapentin was taken with magnesium oxide, confirming the need to avoid taking them together. ^[4]

What about dairy and calcium?

• Food in general: Standard gabapentin (immediate‑release) can be taken with or without food, and routine meals do not require timing adjustments. ^[1]
• Calcium in dairy: There is no official warning that calcium in foods like milk or yogurt reduces gabapentin absorption in the way aluminum/magnesium antacids do. Professional and consumer labeling focuses specifically on antacids with aluminum and magnesium, not dietary calcium. ^[2]
• Underlying pharmacokinetics: Gabapentin’s absorption is saturable and can vary with dose, but meal intake itself is not restricted for the immediate‑release product. ^[7]

Practical tips

• Yogurt is fine: If you prefer taking gabapentin with a snack to reduce stomach upset or help with routine, yogurt is generally acceptable. ^[1]
• Separate from certain antacids: If you use antacids containing aluminum or magnesium (examples: Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil, Gaviscon, Di‑Gel), take gabapentin at least 2 hours apart to avoid reduced absorption. ^[8]
• Check labels: If you are unsure whether a product contains aluminum or magnesium, review the active ingredients on the package. ^[9]
• Pregabalin is different: While related to gabapentin, pregabalin has linear absorption and fewer meal considerations; however, this does not change the guidance for gabapentin itself. ^[10]

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Quick reference table

Item	Interaction with gabapentin	Action
Yogurt/dairy (calcium)	No clinically significant interaction reported in official guidance	Can take together
Meals in general	Gabapentin may be taken with or without food	No timing restriction
Antacids with aluminum/magnesium (e.g., Maalox, Mylanta)	Reduce gabapentin absorption/bioavailability	Separate by ≥2 hours
Magnesium oxide tablets	Significantly lowers exposure (Cmax/AUC)	Avoid co‑administration

Yogurt and other dairy products are therefore acceptable when taking gabapentin; just be cautious with aluminum/magnesium antacids by spacing doses at least two hours apart. ^{[1] [4]}