Gabapentin does not work on GABA receptors directly.
"Pharmacologic
studies suggest that gabapentin may have a novel bind-
ing receptor site in the nervous system (4), because it
does not bind to benzodiazepine, glutamate, glycine,
GABAA , GABAB and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid
(NMDA) receptors.
The mechanism of gabapentin-induced RLS relief is
unknown. Research has shown that gabapentin exerts
a modulating effect at neuronal receptor sites, inhib-
iting the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine (5),
serotonin and norepinephrine (6) and resulting in in-
creased GABA concentrations in various locations
throughout the brain (7). Other research in both hu-
mans (8) and animals (9) has shown a gabapentin-
induced elevation of central nervous system (CNS) se-
rotonin and a significant increase in slow-wave sleep
without an effect on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep"
Link for this page is being a bitch.
There's also this.... which might suggest gabapentin can attenuate neurotransmitter release, thus making drugs LESS euphoric..
The chemical structure of gabapentin (Neurontin) is derived by addition of a cyclohexyl group to the backbone of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Gabapentin prevents seizures in a wide variety of models in animals, including generalized tonic-clonic and partial seizures. Gabapentin has no...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov