Gabapentin’s name gives us a big clue as to how it works: it’s a GABA analog, which means it has a chemical shape that’s similar to GABA but is different in a few key ways that medical experts don’t quite understand yet. Gabapentin is a prescription medication generally used for things like epilepsy and chronic pain, though you may also get a prescription for low-dose gabapentin for your pet before a big appointment to help calm them down. So while gabapentin raises GABA levels in the way supplements are thought to, there’s significantly more research (and FDA approval) behind gabapentin because it’s a medication.