Does Gabapentin cause you to eat more and put on weight?
If so, does that weight stay on as long as you are on Gabapentin. I am only on 200mg at the moment, and I wouldn't have thought such a small dose would make me eat more and gain weight already.
I'm on it for nerve pain, but I know it can help RLS in larger doses.
Yes it can. It can increase your hunger. You might want to try switching to pregabalin. Although it is 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. In your case I would try 25 mg. You can switch directly.
If that doesn't work then you will need a low dose opioid that will control both pain and RLS. I suggest buprenorphine as it lasts 24 hours as the others only last 4 to 6 hours and if you don't take it that often can cause mini withdrawals.
Thank you so very much ,Sue. That is so helpful and informative.
I’m so glad you posted this about gabapentin. I’m basically a thin person and I eat small portions. When I was put on gabapentin for my RLS I gained 25 lbs. in 3 weeks, I was devastated to say the least, not because I want to be a skinny mini but because I never weighed that much and felt sick and uncomfortable. My husband was just so puzzled as I was because I eat like a bird but I eat many times during the day. I’m very healthy and aside from this horrid RLS I don’t suffer from anything else. After much searching and investigating about gabapentin g it finally showed that one of the side effects is weight gain, I’m happy to tell you that the minute I stopped it the first 15 lbs came off very quickly but the other ten were slower. You will loose the weight but you must get off if you choose to go that route. I got off with the knowledge of my doctor but I had to change doctors since that was the drug of choice for RLS, I’m now on Tramadol very successfully for 12+ years with no augmentation and I take 2, 50mg pills at night. Only side effect is insomnia but I can deal with it. Good luck .
Thank you so much. I put on several pounds within days and half a stone in a week.
I just couldn't stop eating. It was like a driving need. I went down from 2 tablets to one, then stopped it altogether.
Hopefully I'll lose that weight, I have severe arthritis and don't want more weight to carry around.
I have RLS and take Clonazepam which helps and am seeking an iron infusion. The Gabapentin was for nerve pain, but I would rather have that than more and more weight.
Thank you again.
Nonnie x
I’m sorry you have the arthritis and suffer with pain. Aside from all I said I hope you’re making decisions that help you properly and you certainly don’t need the extra weight. Take care and I hope everything works out for you.
Bless you. x
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