gabapentin
 

Why is there weight gain with gabapentin? I am not eating more. Never even had to watch my weight before taking it. I have RSD and need it for that. I am thinking about tapering it off slowly to see how much good it is doing. Doctor has me on 800 mg 4 times a day. Is some of it weight water, does gabapentin cause that? Thank you for listening, and for any input you might have.

zinnia

Some of it could likely be water--
 

--as one of the side effects of gabapentin, and a lot of the anti-seizure meds, is a degree of fluid retention. In particular, gabapentin and pregabalin (Lyrica) are not metabolized appreciably by the liver but are instead excreted whole through the kidneys, and one is advised to have good kidney function before one attempts decent doses of these.

However, people also report a degree of carb-craving on these meds. Since the anti-epileptics do tend to downregulate cental nervous system function, the body and hypothalamus often interpret this as a seasonal slowing down, and the tendency is to signal hunger; it's as if the body acts like it is readying for a lean winter/low activity/hibernation phase.

So weight gain can come from both sources.

Thank you glenntaj I appreciate your response. I am going to eat more fiber, be more conscious of what I am eating, drink more water, and walk more. I can not walk far, but can walk many times a day. We have a long concrete driveway to an apartment building, beside our house, with a gradual grade, it is a safe place to walk. It feels good to be outside, even in the winter time. I am also going to see if I can slowly, get down to a lower dose of gabapentin of course with the doctors approval. I was not having this problem on the lower dose. It was a time release capsule, instead of a tablet that I am taking now. I may talk to the pharmacist about the difference. They are so good to help.

gratefully
zinnia

My friend with 15 yrs of neuropathy from 30 yrs of statins is off gabapentin since the grape seed extract she's on about 5 yrs is helping a lot. I've been taking grape seed ex going on 21 yrs....hard to believe but so true.

I started Gaba ..again the 2 nd time and told dr I did not wanT it because of weight . first time I gained 40 lbs and turned very depressed ... It helps a lot for me stopped the pain . but I got off and tried all the others lyric, Cymbalta, keppra , amertriple ugh ... ended up with kEPPRA WHICH WAS pretty good with Tramadol .. but then got a terrible rash ... so had to get off both .. so now for a while about 6 tmonths doing great with just tramadol until boom here comes the pain.. it was terrible .. all I had in the house was you guesses it gaba and I took 2 and it was wonderful. talked with dr and he said my metabolism is now different being 65 verse back then at 40 , that I may NOT gain weight ... he said if I do he will help me ??? but this grape extract sounds interesting ... can you give more info .. are they pills , do they stop pain . do they cause constipation etc etc thanks Roz