AIM: To evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of felbamate in a rat model of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury. MATERIAL and METHODS: Twenty-one male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n=7 each): control, ischemia, and felbamate-treated. Transient spinal cord ischemia was induced by abdominal aortic occlusion for 20 minutes, followed by reperfusion. Felbamate was administered via a nasogastric tube immediately after reperfusion at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Twenty-four hours after surgery, tissue caspase-3 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, spinal cord sections were evaluated histopathologically using a semiquantitative composite injury score, and neurological function was assessed using the modified Tarlov scoring system. RESULTS: Tissue caspase-3 levels differed significantly across the three groups (ANOVA, F=205.19, p<0.001). Compared with the ischemia group, the felbamate-treated group displayed lower caspase-3 levels and reduced histopathological injury. Overall histopathological injury scores also differed significantly across the groups (Kruskal–Wallis test, p<0.001). Scores were higher in the ischemia group than in the control group and lower in the felbamate-treated group than in the ischemia group, although they remained higher than those in the control group. Neurological outcomes followed the same pattern. Mean modified Tarlov scores were 5.00 in the control group, 0.86 in the ischemia group, and 2.14 in the felbamate-treated group, with all pairwise comparisons reaching statistical significance (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Felbamate was associated with reduced apoptosis-related signaling, less severe histopathological damage, and improved early neurological function after experimental spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.