Every medicine is used to treat a particular condition and has different effects on each patient. Human anatomy is a very complex subject; you can never be sure of the same effects on every patient being treated under same circumstances. The effect of every medicine varies from one patient to another depending upon how the anatomy of a patient reacts to the chemical composition of that particular medicine.
Gabapentin (Neurontin) along with other medicines is used to treat epilepsy problems, partial seizures, neuropathic pain, hot flashes, and restless legs syndrome. Ingested orally, it is a first line treatment for all the given diseases and has shown proven results and improvement in countless patients.
Every medicine is formulated and designed to work on particular health issue, but when not prescribed properly or excess dosage is taken then the same medicine can cause difficulties. Just like any other medicine, Gabapentin has a number of side effects, which vary from one patient to another. In this article, we will discuss the possible side effects of Gabapentin with special reference to its impact on the patient’s weight.
Impacts of Gabapentin on Weight
As discussed above, Gabapentin is often given to patients with diseases that need longer and extensive treatments. Eventually, it is prescribed for a certain period of time. When you have to take a medicine for an extended duration, you are not only worried about how soon it will start producing results and improve your ailment; you are also worried about its side effects. One of the major thoughts on the consequences of any medicine is its impact on your weight.
After consulting a lot of health practitioners and going through health journals, we have found out that Gabapentin is not directly associated with weight gain in majority of the patients. Only 13% of patients who are prescribed this medicine witness an increase in their weight directly due to the intake. However, Gabapentin has a number of side effects that can cause weight gain in the patients. A list of all these side effects that may occur in your body is given below:
- Drowsiness – The most common side effect to be reported by the patients is drowsiness after the use of Gabapentin. Drowsiness eliminates the desire to perform any physical activity, let alone a workout or going for a run. When the patient lies down on the bed for the entire time, following a regular diet, the chances of gaining weight increase. Drowsiness is also directly related with fatigues in the body.
- Harmonic Imbalance – Medications associated with brain and nervous system can also impact the hormonal levels of the body as majority of the hormones are controlled by the human brain. Gabapentin can cause a disturbance in the hormone levels leading to changes in your weight.
- Decreased Rate of Metabolism – Gabapentin or commonly known s Neurontin can also reduce the rate of metabolism in your body. When your metabolism rate slows down, the capacity of your body to work on extra fats slows down, eventually leading to weight gain.
- Higher Levels of Water in Body – Research has shown that Gabapentin can cause your body to retain a higher level of water in your body, thus reducing the volume of urine your body excretes. Higher water content in your body increases the weight and makes you obese.
- More Food Intake – It has been observed in many patients that taking Gabapentin increases their food intake. This happens due to a number of factors. First of all, Gabapentin likely increases your hunger, an increased hunger causes you to eat more resulting in an increased weight. Secondly, there is a great chance that while taking Gabapentin, your demand for foods rich in sugar content increases.
- Low Energy and Lack of Motivation – Many patients have reported a reduced level of energy and lack of motivation for doing anything. This results in giving up your daily routine and sticking to the beds or confined spaces. The absence of willpower and motivation impacts the patient’s psychology directly and they give up all kinds of healthy activities. Lethargic behavior also leads to gaining excess weight and not being able to worry about it.
Other Side Effects of Gabapentin
The above mentioned side effects are directly or indirectly related to weight gain in the patients taking Gabapentin. Other than these, following reactions are also possible:
- Visual disorders
- A runny Nose
- Constipation
- Muscle pain
- Fever
- Dry mouth
- A sore throat
- Redness in eyes
Other than the above list, if you are taking Gabapentin and notice the following side effects, you need to see your doctor straightaway
- Suicidal thoughts
- An inclination to hurt yourself
- Sever rashes
- Continuous high fever
- Palpitations
Most of the side effects mentioned can be treated by managing the dosage, but there are reactions that need immediate attention. You need to keep a continuous follow up with your health practitioner to keep a close eye on how your body is responding to the medication.
Some Other Variables
Apart from the side effects contributing towards weight gain, the following are some other factors that may also impact your weight count while you are using Gabapentin
- Duration of Intake – The duration of intake is directly responsible for the amount of weight you may gain. If you are being prescribed Gabapentin for a short period of time, you will notice temporary differences in your body. It is possible that you might get a little overweight depending upon your daily routine. However, if you are taking Gabapentin for a longer period of time and you give up exercise stop following your daily routine, you are likely to get overweight during the period and the repercussions may continue for a longer time even after you have stopped taking Gabapentin.
- Daily Routine – Your daily routine is the most important factor that contributes to excessive weight gain while you are taking Gabapentin. Make sure that you maintain a healthy physical activity so your body stays in shape. It is pertinent to highlight here that friends and family of the patient need to play an important role in this regard. They need to keep the patient motivated and on track for continuing a healthy daily routine.
- Genetics – Genetics play an important part in how your body reacts to certain medications. Researches on this topic have shown that people having the same routine, age, physical outlook react differently to Gabapentin and the reason behind this is having different genetic make-up. Genes specifically control how a patient reacts psychologically to a certain medication. Since the majority of the factors that lead to weight gain as a consequence of taking Gabapentin are rooted in the psychology of the patient, it is safe to say that genes significantly control the weight changes in this scenario.
- Dosage and Accompanying Medicines – The dosage of Gabapentin does not necessarily impact the weight gain in your body. However, every patient reacts differently to every medicine, there might be a possibility that with higher dose, the chances of growing your weight are higher. Medicines that you take along with Gabapentin as a combination also impact the changes in weight. For example, if you are taking a medicine along with gabapentin that contributes to weight gain, then you cannot say that Gabapentin is the only reason you are gaining weight.
Final Thoughts
Not everyone who is prescribed Gabapentin undergoes weight increase, it is estimated that only 10-15% of people using this medicine show an increase in their weight. There may not be drastic changes, but some changes you might observe while standing on a weighing scale. It is important to highlight that weight gain is not something irreversible; you can follow up a healthy diet plan and regular physical workouts to come back to your desired shape.
Very informative. Since taking Gabapentin I have gained quite a bit of weight. Which is causing depression for me. This will be my chief complaint with my Neurologist next month.
Thank you
D.R. Connors
Here I had a RNY gastric bypass and now I’m gaining weight I’m suppose too be losing not gaining .Due to chemical burn from a perm.I don’t no what to do??
Hi Adele, check this article by Katherine Zeratsky here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/gastric-bypass-surgery/expert-answers/gastric-bypass-surgery/faq-20057845 hope it helps.
I’ve noticed that I have gained Weight in my lower part of my body. If I stop thawing The gabapentin will the weight gain be reversible?
I increased my dosage from 3 a day to 4 (doctor wants me to take 5), and I have been gaining weight, especially in my feet. I am retaining water. I went back to 3 this week and hope the doctor will let me quit.
I’m a 67 yr old female in generally good health. I have been treated for chronic pain resulting from a back injury and the resulting 3 failed back surgeries and injury to the thecal nerve sack. Ive taken narcotic pain meds at 8 per day for 30 years. January 2018, I started cutting back after hearing about the benefits of high dose Gabapentin. I now take 5 narcotic meds with 6 Gabapentin perday. Things went very well for the first 2 months, then I noticed shortness of breath, feeling like my stomach was up under my breast as though pregnant. Then a slight headache with the breathing issues. Next came the heart palpitations and feeling of heavy pulse in the carotid artery.
I gained 12 pounds very suddenly in month three.
Summary: The Gabapentin did help my chronic back pain considerably.
But the side effects of weight gain and the associated effects on breathing and heart function are not worth it and i will be discontinuing the Gabapentin.
Note that I research Gabapentin how it works, interaction with other medications and the issue of weight gain never came up.
Only after searched ” weight gain and Gabapentin did I find the connection.
Hey, I am a 43 year old female. And I understand how you feel. I was just put on gabapentin about 2 weeks ago. And I am having some of the same issues as you.. I feel bloated all the time. I have gained weight…I honestly feel pregnant (like you said my stomach is up in my chest) And at times mostly night I have trouble breathing. I was not a large person before. I was put on it for nerve pain. I have several herniated disc in my back and sciatica nerve. But I can’t handle how I feel and look…Think I will stop taking it and deal with the nerve pain….Hope you feel better and find what works for you!
I noticed gaining weight and could not loose weight. I was not motivated to work out and was craving salt and carbs
Ive gained 40lbs. In 6 months. NOW they say yes it might be a problem! Furious and heartbroken…
I have gained at least 30lbs. Since starting gabapentin in November. Afraid of the scales. Only 400mg 3x a day. But I can’t seem to loose any weight. The medication help my nerve pain caused by my neck. But the weight gain is bad. Nothing fits,
Gabapentin is the med from hell. The possible weight gain was minimized even as I became more alarmed. Then told it was my fault even asKoy I became more dependant on it. It should come with large warning label concerning weight gain and disfiguring bloat. Regret the very first pill l swallowed.
I have noticed weight gain but more importantly the absolute inability to lose an ounce. I am hypothyroid and take thyoid medication along with the gabapentin. if I increase the dosage on thyroid medication it could affect my heart which could occur from increased dose of thyroid hormone. I take gabapentin for nerves. it’s all a trade off with these medications. weight gain is a really horrible side effect but it isn’t other more terrible things. it does make me sad though, and nervous about my weight gain. ironically.
I’m having the same problem. I’ve gained 25lbs in 12 weeks. I’m still on it and tried changing my diet to carrots and celery. I gained 5lbs with that. I also have the bloating problem where it feels like my stomach is up in my ribs. I had NO idea that this could be caused by this medication. My doctor even said that unless “I was eating 5 pies a day” he has never seen my kind of rapid weight gain before. He never mentioned that this could be the cause.
I have noticed weight gain but more importantly the absolute inability to lose an ounce. I am hypothyroid and take thyoid medication along with the gabapentin. if I increase the dosage on thyroid medication it could affect my heart which could occur from increased dose of thyroid hormone. I take gabapentin for nerves. it’s all a trade off with these medications. weight gain is a really horrible side effect but it isn’t other more terrible things. it does make me sad though, and nervous about my weight gain. ironically.
I’m on the maximum dose of 3200mg/day for fibromyalgia. I’ve gained 65lbs in a year, I’m 5lbs heavier than the heaviest I ever was, which was 12 years ago, and I feel disgusting. I will admit I don’t eat the healthiest, but I do have a hands on job with dogs where I’m on my feet and active at work for 45 hours/week. I feel like I’m looking at someone else when I see myself in the mirror. I’ve tried lyrica & cymbalta, but I couldn’t afford lyrica once my dosage was increased (the dosage I’d need would have been over $300/month with their coupon and insurance) and cymbalta made me want to kill myself without any trigger- I just knew I wanted to die and it was out of nowhere…I’m starting to eat clean again this week, but from what I’m reading, it’s not going to do much good. I really hope it does, cause I look like a balloon in anything I’m wearing. (I’m 5’11” and I’ve always carried my weight evenly, from weighing 276, down to 168, but not anymore, the majority of my weight gain is in my stomach.)
I’ve been on gabapentin for 6 months and now taking 1200 mg per day. I have gained 23 lbs. My food intake has not increased and I have been keto dieting faithfully for 9 weeks without even a lb lost. I have given up carbs!!!! I don’t understand why I cannot lose any weight with all the changes???
I posted on this site before so do not know if screeners will allow this to be added to comments. I would like to add that personally I may be addicted to Gabapentin after taking it as instructed by my med manage. My nerve and back pain returns more often. I have gained about 40 lbs in 17 months. I weighed 107 lbs. I am 5’1” tall. Now BMI obese. I have never carried this much weight. My meds manager knew I did not to gain weight but said nothing else would help me and so I needed to just get used to the weight but I did to stop gaining. Changing PA hope I can get my life and body back. Be very sceptical of Gabapentin!
I take Gaberpentin for peripheral nuerapathy caused by chemotherapy. I gained 35 lbs and feel like a balloon. The only reason I found out it can cause this weight gain is because I mentioned to a friend how forgetful I am now, I cant remember words or names. He said Gaberpentin caused that on him, so he quit taking it! I was researching the memory loss & found the issue with the weight gain. I am going to try & stop the G, but dread the sleepless nights with leg pain. It has helped a lot with my nerve pain, but the weight gain & memory issue is causing depression. I don’t know what to do.
I take 12 Gabapentin a day, 8 dihydrocodine, 2 amitriptyline 2 clonazepam and 300mg of venlafaxine every day and I cannot believe how large I have got. it depresses me but the GP said if i want to be mobile and pain free I need to take all of this. Funny thing is I am still in pain. My stomach is up under my left breast and it gets stuck in spasms. I think I would be better off without any medication. I do not know how to loose weight. I walk the dogs, sometimes dont eat all day but still put on weight. help.!!!
I’m actually relieved to read the comments about weight gain. I thought it was just me! I gained 20lbs in 10 months on gabapentin. I have weaned myself down to 100mg from 600mg, dropping 100 mg every few weeks, but it’s hard. I’m irritatable for three or four weeks after dropping down. Still haven’t lost a pound. How long does it take before the gabapentin weight starts to fade? I walk 11,000 steps a day including a workout pace two mile walk each day.
I done the same way. I’ve taken it off and on for years not for long periods. However my RA and fibromyalgia increased so my dr said I needed to take it all the time so she prescribed 800mg 3 times a day. I do get some benefit from it but taking it on reg basis I gained 30lbs in a little over 4 months. I am 9 lbs past my heaviest weight which was in 2001! Having some depression, and anxiety. Cant fit anything I own unless it has a stretch band. It makes me crave sugar and salt. I manage the salt part because I have for years due to hypertension. However noone said this could happen! I hurt to bad to just stop it. However I know others who take it that run around like chicken with their heads off and skinny all day long and they’ve been on it for years! I dont know what I should do. Seeing how it eases me very little, but better then no relief I guess…I need to discus things with my doctor.
Thank you all for your comments and testimony’s about this drug. I can certainly relate to each one of challenges as it pertains to the side effects. I think I’m done…. back to the drawing board
I too am relieved to read others have weight gain from G. I have been taking it for just a couple months and am very hyper and energetic. I too have gained 20 lbs. I know it is from the drug, cause when I stopped to go to lower dosage, in 2 days I lost 7 pounds. I am on 100 mg now, and have gained all the weight back. I think I may just stop taking it.
Wow! So glad I found all your comments. i’m on a very high dose of G. and I’ve gained 40 lbs. in a very short time. I crave sweets constantly. My stomach looks like i’m 9 months pregnant! My memory has caused me great concern. I’m getting off this med for good. Side effects outways the benefits!
Hi, my name is Carole and I have been taking gabapentin for a couple of years now due to neuropathy in my legs and I have gained a tremendous amount of weight and I have been retaining water in my upper arms and other body parts. My Doctor does not want to give me “water pills” because apparently it has severe side effets to certain organs. I’m thinking of totally getting off gabapentin because it causes me to be sleepy and lathargic. I don’t have the energy I used to have. Please advise your thoughts. P.S. I’ve gaine about 50 lbs since….???
I’m very relieved to read these comments, too. I started taking Gabapentin a little over a month for a (re)herniated disc and radiculopothy. I stepped onto the scale today and discovered that I have gained 18 pounds in about a month! I’m floored. I have been suffering from massive bloating in my abdomen, as well as severe edema in my feet, but I thought I was being a hypochondriac. I feel horrible from the weight gain and I’m still in pain, to boot. I started out on 300 mg 3/day, but when my pain level didn’t improve they moved me to 600 mg 3/day. I’m thinking that maybe it was the increase that made the weight gain go crazy. I’m hoping this is the case because I’d rather not give it up completely if it was helping me, but I don’t want to live like this. I feel like garbage, both physically and emotionally. I’m hoping all of you get some relief as well.
I have gained 22 pounds taking gabapentin for 2 months. I want off. My Dr was not concerned about it! I am ! I’m getting off this medication! I can not carry this extra weight. I have high blood pressure and heart disease runs in my family. I have severe RLS and have difficulties sleeping. I’m going to try to deal with it. Thank you everyone for your comments! I thought I was alone!