Three accurate, simple and precise colorimetric methods for the determination of gabapentin in capsules are developed. The first method is based on the reaction of gabapentin with vanillin (Duquenois reagent) in the presence of McIlvain buffer pH 7.5 and the color developed was measured at 376 nm. The linearity range was found to be 80-360 microg ml(-1). The second is based on the reaction of the primary amino group of gabapentin with ninhydrin reagent in N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) medium producing a colored product which absorbs maximally at 569 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range 40-280 microg ml(-1) of gabapentin. The third method is based on the reaction of gabapentin with p-benzoquinone (PBQ) to form a colored product with lambda(max) at 369 nm. The products of the reaction were stable for 2 h at 30 degrees C, shifts of the wavelength of maximum absorbance were not observed for up to 24 h after starting the reaction. The absorbance is proportional to gabapentin concentration in the range 80-320 microg ml(-1). The optimum experimental parameters for the reactions have been studied. The validity of the described procedures was assessed. Statistical analysis of the results has been carried out revealing high accuracy and good precision. The suggested procedures could be used for the determination of gabapentin in capsules. The procedures were rapid, simple and suitable for quality control application.