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. 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. 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. In addition to the other side effects of gabapentin, weight gain is a concern for many patients. Gabapentin can cause weight gain, but this side effect is usually rare. 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. It's not entirely clear how gabapentin works to treat restless legs syndrome. Side effects of gabapentin. Common side effects of gabapentin include: drowsiness or dizziness; headache or blurred vision; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation; dry mouth; weight gain; swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles; back or joint pain While more individuals are likely to gain weight as opposed to lose weight on Gabapentin, most individuals won’t notice any significant change in bodyweight. However, it is important to understand that many pharmaceutical companies underestimate the potential of their drug to cause weight gain in effort to increase sales. The authors reviewed changes in body weight in 44 patients treated with Gabapentin (GPN) for a period of 12 or more months. All patients had a seizure disorder and the dose of GPN was increased aiming at complete seizure control or until side effects limited further increase. Twenty-eight patients w 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. Higher doses and longer treatment periods increase your risk of weight gain [11]. People who take Gabapentin might gain about 5 pounds after just 6 weeks of use [12]. Weight gain affected 3% of patients over 12 years old with epilepsy, compared to 2% who took a placebo [12]. This article will provide clear guidance on how to mitigate and potentially stop weight gain associated with gabapentin use, offering practical strategies and insights to help you manage this side effect effectively. The origins of Gabapentin can be dated back to the 1970s in Japan, where it was created and used as an anti-spasmodic—muscle relaxant. For years, it was used for this specific purpose until experts found that the tablet could successfully treat other conditions, such as epilepsy, nerve pain, shingles, and more, without posing severe risks to patients. In clinical trials with adults and adolescents taking Neurontin involving about 4,700 participants, weight loss was an infrequent event, according to DailyMed. Weight gain was more likely, particularly in pediatric patients. A total of 1.8 to 2.9 percent of adolescents and adults in some clinical trials with Neurontin experienced weight gain. 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. Gabapentin is associated with weight gain in a subset of patients, with the extent of weight gain varying based on dosage and duration of treatment. Comparative studies indicate that gabapentin enacarbil may result in less weight gain compared to pregabalin. However, weight gain was a common side effect associated with gabapentin (7.5% of patients) while weight loss was linked to topiramate (22.5% of patients) . 3.2.2. Expert opinion: weight-centric approach 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. In cases where weight gain does occur, it is typically a result of an increased appetite or reduced exercise caused by the drug. Similar weight change was noted with exenatide 10, 15, and 20 μg. The weight loss with exenatide weekly dosing was 0.9 kg, and with daily dosing it was 1.3 kg (P value for difference = .7). Weight loss with GLP-1 agonists used < 3 months was 0.3 kg, 3–6 months was 1.3 kg, and > 6 months was 0.9 kg. 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.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() |