What is gabapentin? Gabapentin is an anti-convalent drug which is used to control various types of seizures in the human body with epilepsy and to relieve nerve pain. Gabapentin uses gabapentin as its active component and its chemical name is 1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid. The biggest gabapentin side effects are vision changing, drowsiness, dizziness, clumsiness, steadiness and sleepiness.