Gabapentin problems

[LavendarCat]

Is anyone extra tired ( I mean I couldn't go to work) and gaining a lot of stomach weight from Gabapentin?

[ChrisColumbus]

How long have you been taking it and how much? "Common side effects of drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness, oedema, weight gain usually resolve after 6 to 8 weeks". Some people however find the side effects continue, and need to adjust their dose or try switching to pregabalin.

[SueJohnson]

You might want to try switching to pregabalin. Although they are basically the same drug except you don't need to divide the doses, and the side effects are basically the same, some people find that the side effects that bother them on one don't bother them on the other. Divide the gabapentin amount by 6 to get the correct dose. If you take calcium don't take it within 2 hours.

Have you had your ferritin checked? Improving your ferritin to 100 or more helps 60% of people with RLS and in some cases completely eliminates their symptoms. If not when you see your doctor ask for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements including multivitamins that have iron in them 48 hours before the test, fast after midnight and have your test in the morning. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your transferrin saturation to be over 20% but less than 45% and your ferritin to be at least 100. If they are not, post them here and we can give you some advice.

[Gafanas21]

tried Gabapentin and didn’t cope with it at all, horrible stuff as the side effects were actually too disruptive. Anything that makes you feel so drowsy and unsteady cannot be good ! Unsafe to drive obviously.

[BocaMom]

Not so much with Gabapentin - but definitely Pregabalin. Horrible side effects - weight gain, anger, and a pain to come off of. Hated it and didn’t think it even helped my RLS that much.

[LavendarCat in reply to BocaMom]

I definitely had anger issues with Ropinirole, and I do a little bit with Gabapentin too. At first, I thought the Gabapentin mellowed me out (ONLY take it at night), but now I am crabby. I think it is because I am so tired all day from the Gabapentin! Do you still take anything for your RLS?

[BocaMom in reply to LavendarCat]

I take one 300 mg Gabapentin in the evening, and try to keep my ferritin up with iron supplements. I recently started LDN and seem to be a good responder to it, other than it’s giving me a bit of a headache. Am hoping to come off Gabapentin completely someday but haven’t done it successfully yet. Thankfully I get by with a small dose and sometimes I will go down to 200 mgs to try and break that tolerance.

[LavendarCat in reply to BocaMom]

Thank you for the info. Do you feel your MD knows a lot about RLS?

[BocaMom in reply to LavendarCat]

Not particularly, but I do have a kind neurologist who listens. Honestly I've learned the most from this forum.

[LavendarCat in reply to BocaMom]

Same.

[Joolsg]

Do you take the gabapentin only at night? For pain, doctors prescribe gabapentin 3 times a day. For RLS, it should be taken at night only in split 600mg doses 2 hours apart.If you take at night and are still drowsy, this should settle after 2 months.

The weight gain is common. Gabapentin can cause water retention and increased appetite.

[LavendarCat in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you for all your responses! Yes, I only take it at night, I take 400mg and then 200mg more 2 hours later. Most nights it works pretty well. I am still so tired all the time. I yawn all day. I am having a thorough blood test done (not just for iron, etc.- my iron levels are fine) in case something else is going on before I change anything.

[LavendarCat in reply to LavendarCat]

Oh, I have been on Gabapentin for 5 months.