Author: John Carter

Gabapentin Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term

Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below.

1. This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
2. Other drug interactions may cause respiratory depression, respiratory failure, and myopathy.
3. Fatigue, which is the most common side effect of gabapentin, could lead to limited physical activity and subsequent weight gain.
4. However, exercise can contribute to weight loss through fat-burning and increasing your metabolism; it also alleviates stress and improves mood by releasing endorphins.
5. Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) is a medicine used to help manage certain epileptic seizures.

The safety and efficacy of gabapentin have not been examined for treatment periods longer than 5 months. Talk with your doctor if you have a history of drug addiction or misuse. This information can help your doctor decide whether any risk of misuse outweighs the potential benefit of using gabapentin. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. Gabapentin is also used in adults to relieve nerve pain or after a case of shingles. It helps prevent certain types of seizures in people who have epilepsy.

Talk to Your Doctor About Switching Medications

An often overlooked but important factor in weight management is sleep. Aim to get at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. If you’re having trouble sleeping or you wake up feeling unrefreshed, talk to your healthcare provider about potential causes and treatments. Incorporating regular physical activity into your day is an important part of weight management. If you’re feeling fatigued as a result of your medication, talk to your doctor about what time of day you should take the medication. Also keep in mind that you don’t have to participate in high intensity activity to lose weight.

Never hesitate to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about gabapentin. Lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain for a variety of reasons. Maybe you tend to rely more on sweet lattes to get yourself through the day.

Talk to Your Doctor About Lowering Your Dose

Do not use the half-tablet if the whole tablet has been cut or broken after 28 days. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Can I drink alcohol while taking gabapentin?

If it’s just a few hours before it’s time to take your next dose, take only one dose. If you have any concerns or questions, be sure to call your healthcare provider or pharmacist right away. An emotional attachment to food can also contribute to weight gain and unhealthy eating patterns. So, another great tip would be to speak to a therapist or dietician about your eating habits, why you eat certain things, and how to create healthier habits. If you’re looking to lose weight during or after taking gabapentin, try to exercise for at least 30 to 40 minutes every day or at least four times a week. Be sure to pick an enjoyable activity, so you’re more likely to maintain the habit.

Incorporating more steps into your day can have a beneficial effect on your weight and your energy level. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Your medications can’t help you if you don’t take them.

Gabapentin may cause weight gain, but it is an uncommon side effect. Studies have shown that a small number of people taking gabapentin, a drug used to treat epilepsy and postherpetic neuralgia, experienced weight gain. People who do gain weight may gain about 5 pounds after 6 weeks of use.

Drink Water Before Meals

Like we previously mentioned, be sure to speak to your doctor about making any changes to your medications. Just like the length of time, it takes for the drug to work the time it takes to leave a patient’s system will also vary. Typically, in adult patients, the half-life of gabapentin is between 5 and 7 hours.

Some studies have found an increase in suicidal behaviors in people taking anti-seizure medicines. But the research is unclear about whether the medicine actually increases this risk. Be sure to talk to a health care provider or mental health provider right away if you’re having suicidal thoughts. Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) is a medicine used to help manage certain epileptic seizures. It also is used to relieve pain for some conditions, such as shingles. Dizziness and drowsiness are common side effects of gabapentin.