Gabapentin isn’t usually used to treat anxiety alone. More often, it’s given to ease anxiety symptoms for someone who also has depression or bipolar disorder. (Anxiety is commonly comorbid with Gabapentin, one of the antiepileptics, shows its effects via voltage-gated calcium channels. Sedation and mood elevation are among its side effects. Let’s start our journey into the psychological side effects of gabapentin with a look at mood changes and emotional instability. Imagine your emotions as a group of excitable puppies – normally, they’re pretty manageable, but throw gabapentin into the mix, and suddenly they’re bouncing off the walls and peeing on the carpet. Gabapentin side effects. When you start taking a new medication, you may experience some common side effects. These will likely reduce within a short time, but if they persist or become problematic, consult with your doctor, as you may need a reduced dose or a change of medication. Common side effects of gabapentin include : If you take gabapentin, you or your family should tell the doctor about any unusual changes in your mood, such as agitation, violence, aggression, depression, or talking about wanting to hurt yourself. Gabapentin is approved to prevent and control partial seizures, relieve postherpetic neuralgia after shingles and moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome. Learn what side effects to watch for, drugs to avoid while taking gabapentin, how to take gabapentin and other important questions and answers. Side Effects Common side effects of gabapentin. Gabapentin can cause several common side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, and fatigue. Other commonly reported side effects include headache, nausea, and blurred vision. These side effects are usually mild and tend to improve over time as the body adjusts to the medication. Some side effects of gabapentin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Discover how gabapentin affects emotions, from potential benefits to side effects. Learn about managing mood changes and the importance of personalized care. Gabapentin can affect mood and may cause depressive symptoms, though this is considered a rare side effect. While it is primarily used to treat seizures and nerve pain, some individuals have reported experiencing feelings of sadness or worsening depression during treatment. pharmacokinetic properties. The most common side effects in adults were somnolence, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, ataxia, and headache5,6,16. Several reports of behavioural side effects of GBP in children have been published17–21. Wolf and co-workers17 described three children with learning disabilities and intractable partial As we wrap up our journey through the twists and turns of gabapentin’s effects on mental health, let’s take a moment to recap. We’ve explored the common mental health side effects, from mood swings to memory issues. We’ve delved into the neurological effects that can impact our mental well-being, like dizziness and confusion. What is the number one side effect of gabapentin? The number one side effect of gabapentin is dizziness, which affects nearly 30% of individuals using the medication. Along with dizziness, drowsiness is another common side effect, with around 19-21% of users experiencing it. These effects can impair activities such as driving, so caution is Gabapentin has been approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for postherpetic neuralgia and as adjunctive therapy for focal seizures. 1 However, a recent analysis of US physician office-based prescription practices between 2011 and 2016 found that less than one percent of gabapentin prescriptions are for such indications. 2 In 2020, gabapentin was reported to be Like all medications, gabapentin can cause side effects, both common and rare. Typically mild, but more common gabapentin side effects include: Tiredness. Dizziness. Tremors. Nystagmus (rapid eye movements you can’t control) Fluid buildup. Weight gain. Rare, but potentially serious side effects of gabapentin include: Depression More serious (but rare) side effects include suicidal thoughts or behavior, and mood changes in children. Combining gabapentin with certain medications, like opioids or benzodiazepines, can also lead to difficulty breathing and overdose in rare cases. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Headaches: Headaches are another common side effect of gabapentin, which can be attributed to other symptoms, including mood changes, dizziness, and thinking issues. These are just a few of the most common gabapentin side effects; it is not an exhaustive list. The most common side effects of gabapentin in therapeutic doses are drowsiness, somnolence, dizziness, movement disorders, diarrhea, and weight gain. In addition, cases have been reported of gabapentin-related suicidal acts and aggressive behavior [ Table 1 ].
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