What to do: If you’re taking an antipsychotic for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or depression and you’re experiencing weight gain, talk to your doctor about newer medications on the market. “They tend to have lower risk of weight gain,” Batsis says. Keep in mind that everybody is different, he hastens to add. 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. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned about becoming physically dependent on gabapentin. Other side effects. These are not all the side effects of gabapentin. Gabapentin may cause weight gain by increasing your appetite, causing fluid retention, and inhibiting physical activity by causing fatigue. Because gabapentin is an anticonvulsant, it prevents seizures and nerve pain by reducing nerve activity in the central nervous system. Although it’s uncommon, edema from gabapentin may lead to weight gain. If you experience edema or weight gain while taking gabapentin, let your prescriber know, but don’t stop taking the medication until you speak with them. Yes, gabapentin can cause weight gain. One review article looking at weight gain from medications found an average weight gain of almost 5 pounds after just 1.5 months on gabapentin. Weight gain from gabapentin unrelated to peripheral edema isn’t very common. To avoid weight gain from gabapentin, make sure you’re taking the dose your prescriber recommends. Taking higher doses of gabapentin increases your risk of weight gain and severe side effects like extreme drowsiness. I have been on Gabapentin 2400 mg per day and have gained 30 pounds in a short time and just wanted to know if this med causes the weight gain or is it just due to me eating more. Answer. Yes, weight gain is a possible side effect for gabapentin (brand name Neurontin). The incidence of weight gain with gabapentin varies by product: Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) is a medicine used to treat partial seizures, nerve pain from shingles and restless leg syndrome. It works on the chemical messengers in your brain and nerves. Gabapentin is from a group of medicines called anticonvulsants. There are several possible explanations for gabapentin weight gain: Fatigue : The most common side effect, which can lead to less activity and more eating. Increased hunger : The medication can make you feel hungrier than usual, which can make it difficult to avoid gaining weight. Clinical trials suggest that less than 3% of all Gabapentin users will gain weight – this means that only a small number of people 3/100 will gain weight. Some speculate that more people gain weight than what is reported by the drug company and/or clinical documentation. Weight gain. Movement problems: coordination problems, being unsteady, tremors, jerky movements. What should I do if I miss a dose of gabapentin? If you forget to Weight gain is not considered a common side effect of gabapentin. In clinical trials, only about 2% of people reported weight gain with its use. In people who do gain weight while on gabapentin, a research study showed a weight gain of about 5.5 pounds after 1.5 months of use. Weight gain while you are taking Lyrica can be associated with higher doses and longer lengths of treatment. In studies, few patients (0.3%) stopped treatment due to weight gain. Lyrica treatment may also cause peripheral edema (swelling of your hands, legs and feet), which can be associated with weight gain. Valproate and gabapentin are seizure medications commonly linked to weight gain. Other ASMs, like topiramate or lamotrigine, may lead to weight loss. People may gain weight while taking gabapentin because the drug increases their appetite and causes water retention, mainly in the arms, hands, legs, and feet. Gabapentin water retention is another example of how the body can change when a medication is taken. 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. Weight gain is surprisingly common among people taking Lyrica. Other common Lyrica side effects include fatigue, vertigo, brain fog, fluid retention, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, gas, depression, tremor and skin rash. Some readers wonder what to do about Lyrica and weight gain. Lyrica and Weight Gain: Q. How do you avoid gaining weight while taking gabapentin? 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. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Gabapentin is also sometimes used to relieve the pain of diabetic neuropathy (numbness or tingling due to nerve damage in people who have diabetes) The most common adverse reactions associated with the use of this drug were dizziness, somnolence, and peripheral edema.
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