I'm *prescribed* to take it 3x/day (for a total of 1800 mg), but I actually only take it twice a day 600 mg in the am, same in the pm. I've found it mellows me out. I no longer get (overly)worked up about things (ie. far less pissy/ragey, I can take things more in stride). The nighttime dose I take with melatonin. It's part of my sleep aid strategy. I usually sleep pretty ok, sometimes even well, lol. I'm only moderately convinced of the efficacy of my plan, but it keeps me from using my xanax very often at all (which I am prescribed for both anxiety and sleep). The xanax is very effective for me, but I prefer to take it infrequently.

But back to gabapentin... I don't know that it stabilizes moods per se, but keeping that overly-irritable side at bay is golden. Makes me seem more like a normal person, lol. I haven't really noticed any impairment, but maybe if I skipped it for a day or two I might be able to assess that better. I don't drive because I take transit. But I do work, and I haven't really noticed a problem.

I am thinking like unicornlady that xr might be more problematic in the regard you are concerned about.