Learn about the common side effects of gabapentin in elderly patients, including dizziness, fatigue, cognitive impairment, and more. Explore the connection between gabapentin and depression, mechanisms behind gabapentin-related depression, and strategies to manage and mitigate side effects. In this cohort study, perioperative gabapentin use was associated with increased risk of delirium, new antipsychotic use, and pneumonia among older patients after major surgery. These results suggest careful risk-benefit assessment before prescribing gabapentin for perioperative pain management. Older adults have a higher prevalence of side effects due to overlapping health conditions and polypharmacy. However, in most cases, they can use gabapentin safely and only need to adjust their dose and follow their doctor’s instructions. Discover the potential side effects of gabapentin in elderly women, including common reactions, risks specific to older adults, and important considerations for safe use. Gabapentin is an effective treatment for chronic neuropathic pain but may cause dizziness, drowsiness, and confusion in some older adults. The goal of this study was to assess the association between gabapentin dosing and adverse outcomes by obtaining estimates of the 30-day risk of hospitalization with altered mental status and mortality in older adults (mean age 76 years) in Ontario, Canada Gabapentin, commonly prescribed for neuropathic pain and seizures, can have side effects in the elderly, including dizziness, drowsiness, balance issues, and swelling of extremities. Additionally, there’s potential for cognitive impairment, kidney function concerns, and increased fall risk. Gabapentin and pregabalin are safe and efficacious options to treat older adults with chronic pruritus. Prior to gabapentinoid initiation, the patient should be screened for: history of kidney disease; COPD or other lung disorders; current opioid medication use; history of falls, lightheadedness, or vertigo; history of mood disorders, including depression and suicidal ideation; history of Therefore, we aimed to examine the association of gabapentin use with neurocognitive changes (i.e., cognitive decline, functional status decline, and motor function change) in older adults. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set (UDS; September 2005-March 2021 From 35,205 eligible older adults (mean age [SD]: 75.7 [7.0]; male: 43.1%), gabapentin use increased from 2006 to 2019 in both overall and every participant subgroup. About 10–30% of gabapentin users reported to concurrently use of opioids, and the concurrent use of gabapentin, opioid, and benzodiazepine was up to 7.5% throughout the study period. Gabapentin may cause breathing problems in people who use opioid pain medicines and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Older adults who take gabapentin also are at higher risk of breathing problems. Gabapentin offers several advantages for elderly patients: Effective pain management: Studies have shown that gabapentin can be effective in treating neuropathic pain in older adults, often with minimal side effects. Seizure control: It remains a valuable option for managing epilepsy in the elderly population. Explore the details of gabapentin use in older adults. We’ll examine common physical reactions, cognitive effects, and emotional impacts. You’ll discover serious concerns requiring immediate attention and strategies for optimizing treatment. Gabapentin, while an effective medication for managing neuropathic pain and seizures, presents significant risks for older adults, making its use in this population a complex issue requiring careful consideration. Outcomes associated with opioid use in the treatment of chronic noncancer pain in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Papaleontiou M, Henderson CR Jr, Turner BJ, Moore AA, Olkhovskaya Y, Amanfo L, Reid MC. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010;58:1353–1369. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02920.x. [PMC free article] [Google Scholar] Although gabapentin has been increasingly prescribed to older adults, the relationship between gabapentin and cognition/functional status is not well studied. Therefore, we aimed to examine the association of gabapentin use and cognitive/functional change in older adults. Methods Source Reference: Bongiovanni T, et al "Perioperative gabapentin use in older adults: Revisiting multimodal pain management" JAMA Intern Med 2022; DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.3757. While multimodal pain management is promoted in perioperative care by both anesthesia and surgical societies, specific guidelines for older adults fail to address the risks or benefits of gabapentinoids. 4 In this issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, the work of Park et al 5 provides additional evidence of the potential harms of gabapentin use in On the basis of these findings and those of meta-analyses of RCTs 12-14 showing a weak opioid-sparing effect of gabapentin, clinicians should reconsider routine use of gabapentin for perioperative pain management among older adults and individualize the treatment decision after assessing the risk of immediate harms vs opioid-sparing benefits of It may be reasonable to start older adults on a low dose of gabapentin, which can be effective to treat pain while exposing patients to a lower risk of adverse mental status side effects of gabapentin (dizziness, drowsiness and confusion) [7].
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