Has anyone had the side effect of swelling in the legs from gabapentin?

[SueJohnson]

I take gabapentin and have noticed recently that I have swelling in my legs. It apparently is a side effect in some people. What have you done about it? I don't want to reduce my dose nor come off gabapentin as it has eliminated my restless legs and also eliminated the pain at night which allows me to sleep. Can I just live live the swelling? Is there any danger in doing so?

[carlega]

I also have recently started taking gabapentin for my rls and have swelling in my legs. I wear a full leg compression stocking (15-20mmHg) on my right leg for a varicose vein. The swelling however, is the same in both legs. So for me, stockings with this compression doesn't seem to be the answer. Has anyone tried higher compression stockings?

[Lunawildwolf]

I'm glad to have come across your post. My legs are swollen and have been for quite sometime. I had no idea it was a side effect of gabapentin but thinking back it surely does tie in with when I started taking it.It doesn't bother me too much but does feel weird when I crouch down on them to get in and out of the bath. It's as if they don't belong to me, if that makes sense.

[Joolsg]

I had lower leg swelling on gabapentin and pregabalin. It reduced slightly after 2/3 months but only disappeared when I came off them.It's listed as a side effect but do also report via the UK government Yellow Card Scheme.

If gabapentin is controlling your RLS best to stay on it. I don't think it's too serious but report as a side effect and mention to your GP.

[SueJohnson in reply to Joolsg]

I live in the US so can't report to the UK government Yellow Card Scheme, but will definitely mention it to my sleep doctor.

[Joolsg in reply to SueJohnson]

No problem. Report via the FDA.Whenever I experience side effects (augmentation for example) I report here in the UK and also on the FDA website. Link attached.

fda.gov/safety/reporting-se...

[Roblylegs]

Wow thats not good at all,I was on Gaba for about a year and threw it in the bin i started getting scary thoughts of suicide and that was it for me .went off all meds for 3 years and started meditating.Now im back on the Sifrol marygoround. .But ive never heard of swelling as a side effect.Good luck but id be asking questions if i was you .

[Ciduoc]

This swelling is probably edema, which is water retention. Edema us a common side effect of Gabapentin. I use vitamin B6 which acts as a diuretic. I also use a supplement called Water Away, which I get from Amazon. Every once in a while I use an over-the-counter diuretic that I buy at Walgreens. It is not good to take diuretics too often or you will get dehydrated. It helps with the edema, but I always keep Pedialyte handy to restore anything that is needed if I were to get dehydrated.

[SueJohnson in reply to Ciduoc]

Do you take Vitamin B6 all the time? Which is the most effective of the diuretics that you take? Have you talked to your doctor about this and if so what does he say. I don't have an appointment with mine for 3 months.

[Ciduoc]

My doctor said the edema was common with Gabapentin. Occasionally I take Diurex which I get over the counter. I also get Water Away from Amazon and take it daily with the vitamin B6.

[SueJohnson in reply to Ciduoc]

How much water do you drink while taking WaterAway? I currently drink two extra glasses a day.

[Ciduoc]

I try to drink as much as possible, but I'm not good at it. I drink Pedialyte if I think that I'm dehydrated. It doesn't taste good so I keep it cold and that makes it tolerable.