Author: John Carter

Does gabapentin cause weight gain?

Patients who have been prescribed gabapentin are often concerned about weight gain as a side effect. However, they should note, weight gain is a very rare side effect, observed in less than 5% of patients. In cases where weight gain does occur, it is typically a result of an increased appetite or reduced exercise caused by the drug.

Weight gain as a side effect of gabapentin isn’t commonly talked about, but it does happen – especially when taking higher doses. Gabapentin is often considered to be a less addictive alternative to opioids. This is especially true in patients with a predisposition towards addiction or a history of substance abuse. If you are concerned about the addictiveness of gabapentin you should speak with your doctor before taking it. It is not considered safe to drink alcohol while taking gabapentin.

Does Gabapentin cause weight gain?

When we eat something delicious that brings us joy, it activates the release of dopamine. This makes the brain think, “Hey, we should keep doing that,” encouraging this repeated behavior. Additionally, when you don’t get enough sleep, your body spikes your cortisol levels. This is a stress hormone that tells your body to conserve energy.

What are the more common side effects of gabapentin?

Overdose symptoms may include slow breathing, double vision, tremor, slurred speech, drowsiness, change in your mental state, dizziness, tiredness, or diarrhea. Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking seizure medicine. Your family or caregivers should also watch for sudden changes in your behavior. When you stop taking gabapentin, you’ll need to reduce your dose gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Do not stop taking gabapentin without talking to your doctor.

1. Peak concentrations of the drug will occur within a couple of hours of taking it, and some effects may be felt within a week.
2. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
3. This makes the brain think, “Hey, we should keep doing that,” encouraging this repeated behavior.
4. So basically, a lack of sleep increases our chances of making poor decisions, like ordering out instead of making a healthy dinner at home.

This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include skin rash, fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

If you drink alcohol with gabapentin the side effects may become amplified. The combination may lead to dizziness, extreme fatigue, and difficulty focusing. The proper dosage of gabapentin will vary between patients and is based on several factors.

Is gabapentin safe for cats?

For one, they’re empty calories, meaning they are neither nutritional nor satisfying enough to keep you full for long periods. As a result, you may eat larger portions and more frequently than what is healthy. If you have an issue with any medications, always go directly to your doctor and discuss other options. These effects occurred only in people who used high doses of gabapentin for an extended period to treat illnesses for which the drug isn’t approved. Medication-related weight gain is common, but there are things you can do to stop or reverse weight gain from gabapentin and other weight-promoting medications.

Drink Water Before Meals

Having a healthy amount of protein in your diet helps you lose weight, maintain it, and it helps you develop a healthier relationship with food. Protein boosts metabolism, reduces your appetite, keeps you fuller longer, and regulates hormones that play a role in weight regulation. Refined or added sugars are in so many foods that it can be difficult to manage how much sugar you eat in a day.

One of his doctors prescribed gabapentin to treat his pain and increased the dose until the pain was almost completely gone. Sam was thrilled to resume all of his activities and sleep well again, but over time he noticed more difficulty controlling his weight. Neurontin (gabapentin) is used to treat pain you may have from shingles (postherpetic nerve pain). It is also used with other seizure medicines for partial onset seizures in patients 3 years and older. Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant sold under the brand name Neurontin, is used to treat seizures and neuropathic pain. It is often considered as a first line of therapy to patients with diabetic neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia.

However, they believe based on several studies that gabapentin binds itself to calcium channels in the central nervous system (CNS). This binding decreases neurotransmitter (chemical substance released at the end of a nerve fiber) release in the CNS as a result of reduced calcium influx. This mechanism is believed to be responsible for relieving nerve pain and reducing the risk of seizures. This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect gabapentin.

What you’ll learn

People who do gain weight may gain about 5 pounds after 6 weeks of use. Let me tell you about Sam, a healthy and active 49 year-old man who loves to snowboard. After a bad fall and hand injury, he developed chronic pain that interfered with his daily life.