Gabapentin and osteoporosis
 

I went for a bone scan. They handed me a form to fill out and there was a question on form about taking anti-seizure meds. I talked to technician and finally answered yes. I am on 2400 mg gabapentin per day.

I looked this up at home and it looks like gabapentin can lead to bone loss.

Four years ago I had DX of ostepenia which is low bone density, but not enough for osteoporosis.

My age is 63 (going on 64 this January). I am Caucasian and have thin build so I fit profile of disease.

Any thoughts on this? I haven't received results of bone scan yet.

I don't believe that bone effects have been proven yet for ALL drugs in the anti-seizure family.

This new article reiterates that:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17583832

This older paper from 2002 says that older drugs (enzyme inducers--refers to effects on the liver) have a higher incidence of bone effects than the new agents like gabapentin.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12011279

But I don't think there are definitive studies on bone loss with gabapentin. You might call the Pfizer hotline for patients and ask.

I think vitamin D status, magnesium status and B12 status also impact bone signficantly. Any lows with either of these 3 will also give lower density.

This Medscape article repeats that the newer agents like gabapentin have not been studied: (but it is from 2004)
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/537807

We have had people here using Lyrica claiming it rotted their teeth. Whether this is a calcium leaching thing or not, has not been proven yet.

I am not sure about the new anti-seizure meds but I know the old ones definitely caused bone loss. My sister was on dilantin for many years and had a severe case of osteo. Kept breaking bones and I was there when the ER doc told her it was the dilantin.
I agree with Mrs. D. call Pfizer and find out if it causes bone loss and at what doses. I would be very careful.