about Gabapentin

Hi Guys, has anyone out there been on Gabapentin without weight gain???  I've only been on it a few months, and I have gained about 8 lbs. already.   What other, if there is another.... pain control can we use that DOES not make us Gain weight.    It also makes me kinda spacey, but does seem to help sometimes.   I was wondering if it is OK to taper down the dose and would that help..??  

Hope someone can help me with this one....

Cheers,
Candy

[Wobbly]

Hi there... I take Gabapentin since Sept. What dosage do you take now?  I'm at 1500mg a day.  I haven't put any weight on now, but I think I did at the beginning, but I'm now trying to loose weight and getting no where with that??  

I don't know of any other med that doesn't have this problem, maybe other will know.. I think you have to watch what you eat with meds and try to stretch or excercise what you can.

take care
wobbly
dx

[Wobbly]

I also wanted to add that at the beginning when I started Gabapentin, I went up to fast on the dosage and got too many side effects, so I lowered it from 2400mg to 1500mg.  I think it helps with some symptoms abit... not all but some

let me know how it goes.
wobbly

[Udkas]

Hi there,
I take Gabapentin my starting dose was 900mg a day and I had no weight gain at all with that but when I was taking 1800mg a day I did feel like I was gaining a bit of weight but I can't tell if it was from the drug or the lack of exercise.  My neuro gave me the higher dose when I was having difficulties and loads of pain so I didn't feel up to exercising anyway and I think I was eating more but I am not sure if that's because the gabapentin makes you hungry or because you eat more when you are sitting around. I also think I tend to comfort eat.

I hope it works out for you, decrease gradually and increase gradually for the least sideaffects.

Udkas.

[jules2212]

Hi Candy i have been on Gabapentin for about a year and 9 months. The dosage im on is 900mgs in the morning and 900mgs at bed time, i have not had any adverse side effects or weight gain in fact, since i started this which could be coincidence i have  lost a total of around 42lbs. As i said it might have nothing to do with the medication i dont excersise (dont have the energy) i have no explanation for it. Well thats my 2 cents worth hope everything works out for you in the end. Take care and be well.

Kind Regards
Julie xxx

[Eyesnlegs]

Hi Candy

I only managed to get up to 600mg per day and I had gained a stone, I wasn't doing  less exercise, not sure if I was eating more but I don't think so but I put weight on very easily and always have done.

I tapered down to only 300mg and my GP now says I can come off them over the next 6 weeks if I want to but she felt that a constant low dose was better than taking a high dose for a shorter time as it may provide a sort of damping effect on the pain. She wants me to keep a diary of I decide to come off them as that will help to see if this small amount is helping.

I haven'treduced any further yet as I have been suffering with a chest infection and felt I just didn't want to invoke anything else. This tiny level does seem to help me and also lets me control my weight again - problem is this type of med is very individual and some will respond to small amounts others need loads.

hope this helps - just my experience

Pat

[slightlybroken]

I'm on a low dosage of Gabapentin and I haven't experience weight gain. My sister and an aunt of mine, was on it, and did. They were at a high dosage right from the start. My aunt had to be taken off the drug because her weight gain was due to swelling she was experiencing from a side effect of taking Gabapentin. My sister had a similar situation. Once my sister was off the drug, the swelling went away. She didn't realize how much the medication swelled her extremities, until she was off the drug.

[candy158]

Thank you for all your input.  It is great to have so much support in here.  I am on 1200mgs. of the Gabapentin.... and I can't exercise much either, with a bum right let, and a frozen left shoulder it is to good to exercise.  I do hope that soon I can start to do something.... but the fatigue is also overwhelming too.  I have just been disgnosed, and already in the secondary progressive phase... they feel that I have had this for some time now....

Thanks again,
take care, and Cheers,
Candy

[JCD523]

I have been on gabapentin for about 10 months.  Now on 900 mg. 3 x day.  It makes me feel a bit groggy but that is so much better than the pain and muscle spasms!  I have not had any weight gain but then I was losing weight fairly rapidly before the addition of gabapentin so it's possible it's just compensating.
JD

[luvnGod]

I have been on gabapentin just since March and started taking only 300 mg at bedtime.  It didn't help at all, so they upped me to 600mg at night and 300mg during the day.  I tried taking it during the day and felt so groggy I couldn't do anything.  So currently I'm on 600 mg. right before bedtime.  It helps me sleep a bit, but it's doing nothing for my pain.  Since March and since taking the gabapentin I have gained about 8-10 pounds as well.  Not too thrilled with that, but until then was having unexplained weight loss so I guess gaining a bit back doesn't hurt....i just don't want to gain any more than that!

Blessings to you and I pray you get the correct treatment!
Stacie

[Sparkysarah]

I am still on Gabapentin after 15 months and have played around with the dose according to my symptoms (with my neuro's consent).  I am under no illusion that it made me put on weight (about a stone) when I was on 1200mg and I am now on 300 at night and today just took 100 in the morning as I am in relapse and struggling.  I tried very hard to lose weight when onthe drug without success with exercise and diet. When I reduced the dose the weight started coming off so for me this confirmed that it is a side effect that has to be tolerated.  Off to the gym now!!!!