Gabapentin increase appetite

[Jeaniem130]

My gabapentin was just increased to 900 mg a day and it seems to have increased my appetite. Anyone else find this, if so does it lessen as I get used to it? So far my weight is up a smidge. I exercise as much as I can but am recovering from a lumbar fusion so can't do a whole lot yet.

[carol1]

Hi Due to back problems and pains in my legs, I was on pregabalin I put on over a stone. After my spinal surgery I came off them and lost 12 pounds after slowly coming off the pregabalin. You get withdrawal symptoms 🙄 but I got an infection in my back, have had a second operation, now back on pregabalin as the pains have come back in my legs, now waiting for another operation to remove fluid in my back that was from my infection.

Pregabalin does increase your weight, but it's a side affect of the drug. I was on lyrica they didn't put the weight on as much but as they are very expensive they switched me to pregabalin a cheap drug.

[Jeaniem130 in reply to carol1]

Oh no an infection sounds awful. I am sorry to hear that, hopefully the surgery resolves the issues. I am 10 weeks out from my surgery and still have all the back and nerve pain as before. The gabapentin helps the nerve pain but I still need an occasional muscle relaxer and rarely my script pain pill. I am allowed to use an otc NASI D now but I am waiting until I get my xray in 4 weeks to see how the bone graft is fusing.

[Angels111]

I have been on Gabapentin for a while now, along with other prescribed medications. I don’t recall it has impacted my appetite. I too am suppose to have lumbar surgery. Due to COVID-19, I have had to postpone it for over 1 1/2 years, I believe.When I take Gabapentin consistently, the neuropathy in my toes and areas at the base of my toes are at a pain level of about 3 (1 is no discomfort and 10 is extreme discomfort. ). During the day, if I do a lot of standing or sitting, and possibly take a dose late, the pain level will be 8/9.

[NaturesArtist]

When I was on Gabapentin in around 2005/2006, I found it increased my appetite a lot. I was only on it for around six months and I gained around a stone … 14lbs. The more worrying side effect was it totally messed with my memory! I struggled to recall things from the past. I struggled to remember a conversation half way through! My son thought I was developing early onset dementia! My memory loss was mentioned to the pain clinic. They were positive it was the higher dose of Gabapentin! I was weaned off it completely! And my older memories came back! My short term memory loss returned to what was normal of me before the Gabapentin! Hope this helps you make an informed choice.

[Jeaniem130 in reply to NaturesArtist]

I want to get off of it asap. I do notice my thinking is a little fuzzy. I just think about eating constantly. I might see if I can skip a dose and see if it helps.

[greekqueen]

No and I have been on it for nearly ten years and on highest dose.

[KnittIngnannyJ]

I too have been on a high dose of Gabapentin for back pain. I haven’t noticed an increase in appetite but it has definitely caused weight gain. It may sound strange but it has caused breast enlargement.

[Hidden]

I have been on gabapentin and also pregabalin. Neither of them changed my eating habits. I don't weigh myself, but my clothes fit as before so I don't think I have gained any weight. Because nerve pain and back pain make it hard to be active, I could see that might make it hard to maintain your weight, however. As one of the responders below said, I find both of these drugs really affect you cognitively. I am still taking pregabalin, waiting for lumbar surgery, so I hope this side effect disappears once I am no longer taking the drug. Best wishes, and I hope your pain is manageable.

[Spiritbeatle]

Hi I take 2400 mg of gabapentin a day to help control my pain.I don't get hungry or any other side affects at all.

[smg60]

I suffered pelvic floor dysfunction. Every time I peed, my vagina would hurt so badly that I often ended up in tears. The pain would last anywhere from a couple minutes to 40 minutes. For some reason, the pelvic floor muscle spasms would set off my bladder? I was up to 2300 mg per day of Gabapentin. It definitely affected me cognitively - esp my memory. I switched to gummies (10mg CBD/6mg THC - twice a day) and weaned myself off of the Gabapentin. This was done with full support from my GP and my specialist (Urogynecologist). Next, I'm going to try and wean off of the 3x daily muscle relaxant (Cyclobenzaprine). This is what really helped with my pain....