Does gabapentin make you puffy?

Gabapentin is a medication that is approved to treat seizures and a specific type of nerve pain. Though not very common, gabapentin can potentially cause side effects like weight gain and swelling in the legs (edema).

How long does swelling from gabapentin last?

Within 3 days of discontinuation of gabapentin, the edema resolved. When the patient was rechallenged with gabapentin, the edema returned after 5 days, suggesting the authors' suspicions of an adverse effect from gabapentin was likely correct.

Does gabapentin cause rapid weight gain?

Official answer. Gabapentin may cause weight gain, but it is an uncommon side effect. Studies have shown that a small number of people taking gabapentin, a drug used to treat epilepsy and postherpetic neuralgia, experienced weight gain. People who do gain weight may gain about 5 pounds after 6 weeks of use.

Can gabapentin make you retain water?

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. Patients taking medications like Neurontin and Gralise may gain a few pounds after about six weeks into treatment.

Does gabapentin make you swell?

It is important to recognize this adverse effect because gabapentin is used in conditions like diabetic neuropathy, which is associated with multiple co-morbidities that can give rise to bilateral leg swelling. Presence of gabapentin induced leg swelling can thus confound the clinical picture.

FDA Warns Popular Nerve Pain Drugs Gabapentin, Pregabalin Linked To Serious Breathing Problems & Dea

Does gabapentin cause swelling or water retention?

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is a medication that's FDA-approved to treat seizures and postherpetic neuralgia, which is a specific type of nerve pain. Although they're not common side effects, gabapentin has been reported to potentially cause weight gain and fluid buildup in the legs (edema).

What is the most common side effect of gabapentin?

Dizziness and drowsiness are common side effects of gabapentin. Some other possible side effects include weight gain and trouble with movement.

How do I stop gaining weight on gabapentin?

Does gabapentin cause swollen legs?

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is used to treat nerve pain, which often occurs after shingles (known as postherpetic neuralgia) or as a result of nerve damage from diabetes (diabetic peripheral neuropathy). Gabapentin is known to cause lower leg swelling.

How long does it take for gabapentin to cause weight gain?

Weight increase started between the second and the third months of GPN treatment in most patients and tended to stabilize after 6 to 9 months of treatment, although the doses of GPN remained unchanged.

What to avoid when taking gabapentin?

How long should I take gabapentin for nerve pain?

How long to take it for. If you have epilepsy, it's likely that once your condition is under control you'll still need to take gabapentin for many years. If you have nerve pain, once your pain has gone you'll continue to take gabapentin for several months or longer to stop it coming back.

How long can you stay on gabapentin?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “the efficacy and safety of gabapentin have not been examined in clinical studies for treatment periods longer than five months.” However, gabapentin can be taken longer than five months, should a treating physician deem it necessary, provided the patient does not ...

What happens to your body when you stop taking gabapentin?

Withdrawal symptoms can begin within 12 hours to 7 days after quitting the medication and last up to 10 days. Symptoms of gabapentin withdrawal may include nausea, dizziness, headaches, insomnia, and anxiety. The safest way to stop using gabapentin is to taper off the medication under the supervision of a doctor.

How long before bed should I take gabapentin?

How Is Gabapentin Dosed? When used for insomnia, most doctors will write a prescription for 100-400 mg of Gabapentin. This should be taken once a day right before you're ready to go to bed.

Should gabapentin be stopped suddenly?

Stopping the use of gabapentin without doctor supervision can lead to sudden seizures. Your doctor may want to gradually reduce the amount of gabapentin you are taking before taking you fully off the medication. You will also want to let any doctors or dentists you see that you are taking gabapentin.

What does gabapentin do to legs?

Gabapentin enacarbil is used to treat moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). RLS is a neurologic disorder that makes the legs feel uncomfortable. This results in an irresistible feeling of wanting to move your legs to make them comfortable.

What medications make you retain water?

Medications – certain drugs, including high blood pressure medication (antihypertensives), corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to cause fluid retention.

How do you get rid of swollen legs fast?

Is gabapentin hard on your body?

Gabapentin may cause vision changes, clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, or trouble with thinking. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well.

How do I get off gabapentin?

Tapering or slowly reducing your dose is recommended to stop taking gabapentin. Tapering off will help you avoid side effects. The timeline to reduce gabapentin depends on the individual and the current dose of the medication. Your doctor will develop a plan to slowly take you off the medication.

What kind of pain is gabapentin good for?

Gabapentin is used to treat some types of persistent pain. It is especially good for nerve pain, such as burning, shooting or stabbing pain. Gabapentin belongs to the anticonvulsant group of medications, which are also used to treat epilepsy. You are on this medicine to treat your pain.

How to get rid of water retention?

Does gabapentin heal nerves or just mask pain?

Yes, gabapentin is used for treating epilepsy by 'calming down nerves'. Research has shown that gabapentin by a 'similar process' is also effective in helping to relieve certain types of pain.

Do you have to take gabapentin every day for nerve pain?

Be sure that you keep to a consistent schedule — your doctor will tell you how many times a day you need to take a dose. “For consistent pain relief, you need to take the medication every 8 or 12 hours,” Dr. Arora says. Many people stay on gabapentin long term and take it every day.