Gabapentin is an oral, adult and pediatric medication for patients aged 12 and over. It is found in packs containing 30 capsules of 300 mg and 400 mg and its sale is allowed only upon presentation of a medical prescription.
What is Gabapentin used for?
According to the drug leaflet made available by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), it is indicated for the treatment of neuropathic pain in adults, which occurs due to injury and/or malfunction of the nerves or nervous system.
Gabapentin can also be used as adjunctive therapy in cases of partial seizures (seizures) in patients from 12 years of age.
Gabapentin fattening?
It is possible to say that Gabapentin is fattening because one of the adverse reactions associated with the use of the drug that is described in the leaflet is precisely weight gain. In addition, increased appetite, which can lead to weight gain, is another reaction that appears in the package insert as possible to be experienced by patients using the drug.
On the other hand, there are also chances that the remedy will result in a decrease in weight. Another side effect that appears described in its leaflet is anorexia. It is an eating disorder in which there is a severe decrease in weight, above what is considered healthy.
The disease makes the person see himself as someone overweight even when his weight is below ideal and can even lead to death. 20% of eating disorder cases result in death.
In both cases, especially in the case of anorexia which is a serious disorder, it is essential to seek help from the doctor to know how to proceed in relation to the treatment with the medicine.
And no using Gabapentin thinking you can lose weight with it. In addition to having the chance of having the opposite effect, since we have also seen that Gabapentin makes you fat in some situations, the weight loss that it promotes is very risky and brings with it the possibility of a series of other side effects, as we will see in the topic Next.
Other side effects of Gabapentin
Now that we understand whether Gabapentin makes you fat or not, let’s get to know other adverse reactions that the drug can bring. According to information from the leaflet provided by Anvisa, the drug can cause the following side effects:
- Malaise;
- Fatigue;
- Fever;
- Headache;
- Back pain;
- Abdominal pain;
- Edema (swelling) of the face;
- Viral infection;
- Pain;
- flu symptoms;
- accidental injury;
- Generalized edema;
- Chest pain;
- Vasodilation;
- Palpitation;
- Increased blood pressure;
- Dry mouth;
- Dry throat;
- Vomiting;
- Nausea;
- Flatulence;
- Indigestion;
- Constipation;
- Diarrhea;
- Dental abnormalities;
- Gingivitis;
- Pancreatitis;
- Decreased leukocytes and/or platelets;
- Decreased white blood cell count;
- Purpura (spots due to extravasation of blood on the skin);
- Peripheral edema;
- Hyperglycemia;
- Hypoglycemia;
- Jaundice;
- Elevated liver function tests;
- Hepatitis;
- Increased breast size;
- Breast hypertrophy;
- Fracture;
- Muscle pain;
- Joint pain;
- Tinnitus in the ear;
- Mental confusion;
- Hallucination;
- Amnesia;
- Mental confusion;
- Somnolence;
- Insomnia;
- Nervousness;
- Tremor;
- Dizziness;
- Vertigo;
- Mood change;
- Lack of coordination of movements;
- Difficulty articulating words;
- Increased motor activity throughout the body;
- Muscle spasms;
- Muscle contractions;
- Increase, decrease or abolition of reflexes;
- Abnormal coordination;
- Depression;
- Emotional instability;
- Involuntary movement of the eyes;
- Abnormal thinking;
- Muscle shakes;
- Anxiety;
- Hostility;
- Gait change;
- Fall;
- Loss of consciousness;
- Decreased vision;
- Double vision;
- Abnormal vision;
- Cough;
- Pharyngitis;
- Rhinitis;
- Pneumonia;
- Excoriation;
- Acne;
- Pruritus (itching);
- Dyspnoea (shortness of breath);
- Rash;
- Erythema multiforme (red, raised lesions on the skin)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (severe allergic reaction);
- Angioedema (swelling due to an allergic reaction);
- Urticaria;
- Impotence;
- Urinary tract infection;
- Acute renal failure;
- Urinary incontinence;
- Sexual dysfunction.
If you experience one or more of these or other undesirable reactions, tell your doctor about the problem to find out how to proceed.
Contraindications of Gabapentin
The medicine should not be used by people suffering from hypersensitivity to any of the components of its formula. Women who are pregnant, are planning to become pregnant or become pregnant during treatment should inform their doctor of the pregnancy.
Women who are breastfeeding should also report it to the doctor and can only use it with strict guidance and professional observation, considering that the drug is eliminated in breast milk.
During treatment with Gabapentin, the patient should also not drive vehicles or operate machinery, as their ability and attention may be impaired. Activities can only be resumed after the doctor certifies that the medication is not affecting the patient’s abilities.
The doctor should also be informed about all medications that the person takes or may start using to verify that there are no risks of interaction between Gabapentin and the drug in question.
Quick links:
Gabapentin Dosage
The drug leaflet informs that the effective dose both for epilepsy in patients from 12 years of age and for adults with neuropathic pain is between 900 mg and 3600 mg per day, with the suggestion of 300 mg three times a day.
For cases of epilepsy, the interval between doses should not be greater than 12 hours, in order to avoid recurrence of seizures.
Persons with impaired renal function may need dose adjustment. For patients undergoing hemodialysis, the package insert recommends a loading dose of 300 mg to 400 mg and then doses of 200 mg to 400 mg after every four hours of hemodialysis.
However, the dosage indicated for each case must be done individually, being determined and adjusted by the doctor according to the case and the needs of each patient. The provider may recommend that the person start with 300 mg daily and gradually increase to 900 mg, making adjustments as the patient responds.
So, no self-medicating or taking a different amount than the doctor passed. To ensure the safety of your treatment, follow all the professional’s guidelines regarding the time and duration of use of the medicine. If you don’t, you will be putting your health at risk.
We hope this article helped you learn Gabapentin Fattening? What Is It For, Dosage and Side Effects. You may also want to learn Which Bread is Good for Weight Loss? Check All Details Here! Or check out our Diet & Nutrition category.
If you liked this article, then please share on your social networks and stay tuned for upcoming articles. You can also find us on Facebook, and Telegram.
