Are there any risks of taking gabapentin during pregnancy? Gabapentin use in pregnancy is not very well-studied. While the available information does not strongly suggest that it causes problems for the baby, further research is required to prove that gabapentin is safe. Advice and warnings for the use of Gabapentin during pregnancy. FDA Pregnancy Category C - Risk cannot be ruled out Considering the increasing number of pregnant women who may be taking gabapentin for other conditions during pregnancy, such as restless legs syndrome, 7 and paucity of information regarding the safety of this medication in pregnancy, more information regarding fetal safety is required. When treating neuropathic pain in a woman who is pregnant, the use of gabapentinoids (e.g. gabapentin) or an antiepileptic drug (AED) (e.g. levetiracetam, lamotrigine) is a last line option. This is due to the limited availability of data for safe use during pregnancy. Other options should be trialled first. Selected References: Blotiere PO, et al. 2020. Risk of early neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with prenatal exposure to the antiepileptic drugs most commonly used during pregnancy: a French nationwide population-based cohort study. BMJ Open 10(6). Brannon GE, Rolland PD. Anorgasmia in a patient with bipolar disorder type 1 treated with gabapentin. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000;20(3):379 Gabapentin is safe for cats and is commonly prescribed by veterinarians to treat pain, anxiety, and feline hyperesthesia syndrome. It has a low risk of side effects when taken at the correct dosage. Mild sedation and lethargy are the most common side effects but these tend to get better with continued dosing. The majority of the available epidemiological data relate to gabapentin use in pregnancy for the treatment of maternal epilepsy. A few case reports/series describe use of gabapentin in the treatment of neuropathic pain or hyperemesis gravidarum but studies have not assessed fetal outcomes following use in pregnancy for these indications. While gabapentin (Neurontin) is now used in a wide variety of clinical settings — for epilepsy, pain management, restless leg syndrome, anxiety, and sleep disturbance – there is relatively little information regarding its reproductive safety. Gabapentin is not generally recommended in pregnancy as there is not enough information about whether it's safe for your baby. However, from the small amount of information that is available, there's no clear evidence that it's harmful. Pregnancy-related problems, such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth) have been reported in some studies looking at the use of gabapentin during pregnancy. It is not known if gabapentin can make it harder to get pregnant. Sexual dysfunction (including loss of desire to have sex and loss of ability to have an orgasm) has been reported among women who take gabapentin. Gabapentin is a γ-aminobutyric acid analog formally indicated for the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain that is gaining increased popularity. Gabapentin has been historically considered a safe medication, including during pregnancy and lactation, with low reported concerns for misuse and us There was an increased risk of preterm birth among women exposed to gabapentin either late (RR=1.28 [CI 1.08-1.52], p < 0.01) or both early and late in pregnancy (RR=1.22 [1.09-1.36], p < 0.001). The researchers reported 2 major malformations in infants exposed to gabapentin in the first trimester of pregnancy. 3 In another group of 7 women with hyperemesis gravidarum, 2 congenital defects were reported. 4 A cohort study in Denmark reported on 59 fetuses exposed to gabapentin during pregnancy, and documented 1 major malformation and 6 Data on gabapentin use in pregnancy are mixed—some studies suggest it can result in increases in birth defects and other pregnancy complications, while other studies suggest it’s safe. Since decisions about gabapentin use in pregnancy are complex, it’s important to talk with your doctor about whether starting or continuing use is right We found that gabapentin could induce high expression of dopaminergic related genes, which suggested that gabapentin use might not be safe during pregnancy. Gabapentin is commonly used as a first-line treatment and is the most frequently prescribed drug in neuropathic disorders. The misuse of gabapentin is known to cause serious negative effects. Does taking gabapentin increase the chance of birth defects? Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk. Small, controlled studies on gabapentin have not suggested an increased chance of birth defects. Does taking gabapentin in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems? Pregnancy-related problems, such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth) have been reported in some studies looking at the use of gabapentin during pregnancy. Despite the widespread use, only sparse information is available on the safety of gabapentin during pregnancy. We sought to evaluate the association between gabapentin exposure during pregnancy and risk of adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes.
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