Gabapentin is a commonly used medication used as an anti-convulsant or analgesic. The well-known side-effects of gabapentin are dizziness, drowsiness and fatigue. In rare cases, it can lead to development of new onset congestive heart failure (CHF) or decompensation of pre-existing CHF. Gabapentin can cause edema: This medication may lead to swelling in some users. Dosage matters : Higher doses of gabapentin can increase the risk of edema. Monitor side effects : Regular checks for swelling are crucial during treatment. In older adults, common adverse effects of pregabalin include dizziness (34%) and drowsiness (22%). 1 Peripheral edema (15%) 1 and worsening of heart failure symptoms have also been reported. 2, 3 These effects may be the result of antagonism of the L-type calcium channel in the vasculature causing vasodilatation, similar to the mechanism of The most common gabapentin (Neurontin) side effects are dizziness and drowsiness. This may affect your ability to drive or perform other activities. Other gabapentin side effects include edema (fluid buildup), weight gain, and eye problems, but these aren’t as common. Patients receiving gabapentin >or=1800 mg/d had a higher incidence of peripheral edema (7.5%) than those receiving gabapentin <1800 mg/d (1.4%) or placebo (1.6%) (P<0.002, gabapentin >or=1800 mg/d vs placebo). In contrast, the incidence of dizziness and somnolence was not higher in patients receiving gabapentin >or=1800 mg/d compared with those Swelling: In clinical trials, gabapentin causes peripheral edema (swelling in the limbs), which can lead to increased body weight. Peripheral edema is a more common side effect than weight gain, occurring in up to 8% of people who take gabapentin. For those taking gabapentin, it is important to be aware of the potential side effects, including swelling or edema. Monitoring your body for any signs of edema while on gabapentin is essential for prompt intervention and prevention of complications. Incidence of pedal edema with gabapentin use is approximately 7 to 7.5% with all studies being in elderly patients receiving doses above 1200 mg/day. This case illustrates that lower doses of gabapentin can also cause this adverse effect. Amlodipine (Norvasc), gabapentin (Neurontin, Horizant, Gralise), and pregabalin (Lyrica) can cause puffy legs and ankles. Birth control pills, certain over-the-counter pain medications, and steroids are a few other culprits. Common adverse effects of gabapentin include dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and peripheral edema . Uncommonly, gabapentin causes blurred vision and diplopia [ 4 ]. Steinhoff et al. [ 5 ] reported that this drug has been linked with abnormal color perception and reduced contrast sensitivity due to an unknown Although the mechanism behind peripheral edema from gabapentin is largely unknown, it has been theorized to be similar to the mechanism in which other calcium channel blockers (eg, amlodipine) cause peripheral edema. 6,7 This relationship has been hypothesized to be due to gabapentin's actions on presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels. 1,6 Although gabapentin is generally well tolerated, 1 potential reported adverse effect is peripheral edema. However, due to the extensive number of etiologies of peripheral edema, medication causes may be overlooked on an inpatient psychiatric unit. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking gabapentin: More common in children. 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. Peripheral edema (2% to 8%) Headache (1% to 8%) Weakness (6%) Palpitations; Lyrica Side Effects. Peripheral edema (4% to 16%) Dizziness (3% to 45%) Drowsiness (10% to 36%) Headache (2% to 14%) Fatigue (4% to 11%) Weight gain (2% to 14%) Dry eyes (≤15%) Palpitations; As you can see above, the side effect profiles between Lyrica and gabapentin Gabapentin, a medication primarily known for its use in treating seizures and nerve pain, has a complex relationship with the legs. While not specifically designed to target leg issues, gabapentin’s mechanisms of action and side effects can significantly impact this part of the body. Acute heart failure, which may be associated by peripheral edema (i.e., cardiogenic peripheral edema), seems to be a risk specific to pregabalin exposure that is not found with gabapentin [10]. This apparent polymorphism of gabapentinoid-associated edematous states (i.e., of non-cardiogenic or cardiogenic origin) could be due to several Gabapentinoids can cause concentration-dependent peripheral edema of early onset. The primary mechanism of non-cardiogenic peripheral edema is vasodilatory edema secondary to altered myogenic tone, independent of Ca<sub>v</sub>1.2 blockade under the experimental conditions tested. Similarly, the incidence of peripheral edema caused by CCB is dose related and common in the elderly, comparable to reports of gabapentin induced edema. This case illustrates that gabapentin induced leg swelling can confound the clinical picture and it is thus important to recognize this side effect of gabapentin. Side-effects such as dizziness, insomnia, somnolence, dose-dependent localized edema, weight gain, ataxia, nystagmus, asthenia, skin rash, nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbance has been reported. [3, 4, 12]
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