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Anticonvulsants, or AEDs (antiepileptic drugs), are medical agents used to treat epileptic seizures. They have also been used more often for those with bipolar disorder because of their suggested mood stabilizing properties.

The anticonvulsants Gabapentin and Pregabalin are also effective for treating chronic pain caused by migraines and neuropathy. The modes of action of each of these drugs vary, but all can also help with insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

Gabapentin can also be effective in treating fatigue, flu-like symptoms, cognitive disorders, neurological deficits, IBS (or irritable bowel syndrome), bladder dysfunction, RLS (restless leg syndrome), muscle cramps or spasms, and multiple chemical sensitivity. They are now the most important drugs to treat CFS/ME because they can target many symptoms at once.

Anticonvulsants’ sides effects vary with the mechanisms by which they work, as well as the individual, and how prone they are to feeling side effects. Older products can have rare liver-related side effects and other severe effects. Sedation is often a side effect of the newer drugs.

Common side effects are headaches, vertigo, and visual disturbances. Anticonvulsants can also contribute to weight fluctuations; some can cause gain, and some, such as topiramate, vigabatrin and zonisamine, can cause one to lose weight.

The treatment most often used for patients with CFS/ME and fibromyalgia is Gabapentin, or Neurotin. It can be used to treat a variety of problems, from hot flashes to interstitial cystitis. It is frequently used in the treatment of anxiety and mood conditions. It also is popular to relieve burning, or electric-like pain like that felt in neuropathy.