Tag: Gabapentin Side Effects

How to Take Gabapentin With Other Medicines and Herb Supplements ?

Some medicines may affect how gabapentin works or increase the chance of you having side effects.

Antacids can reduce the amount of gabapentin that the body takes in so it does not work as well. To stop this happening, if you need to take an antacid, take it at least 2 hours before or after your dose of gabapentin.

Tell your doctor if you’re taking any of these medicines before you start gabapentin treatment:

    • strong painkillers, such as morphine – these can make you very tired and dizzy when you start taking gabapentin
    • antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or fluoxetine
    • antipsychotic medicines for mental health problems like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
    • a medicine to prevent malaria called mefloquine

Mixing gabapentin with herbal remedies or supplements

Taking herbal remedies and supplements that can make you feel dizzy or drowsy while you’re taking gabapentin could make these side effects worse.

Gabapentin can intensify the highs of recreational drugs like cannabis and heroin.

So, if you use recreational drugs alongside gabapentin, there may be more chance of unpleasant side effects like panic attacks, anxiety and memory loss.

Serious Side Effects of Gabapentin

Very few people taking gabapentin have serious problems.

Call a doctor or call 111 straight away if you have a serious side effect, including:

  • thoughts of harming or killing yourself – a small number of people taking gabapentin have had suicidal thoughts, which can happen after only a week of treatment
  • a high temperature, swollen glands that do not go away, your eyes or skin turn yellow (this may be less obvious on brown or black skin), unusual bruises or bleeding, severe tiredness or weakness, unexpected muscle pain or weakness, with or without a rash – these may be symptoms of a serious reaction
  • long-lasting stomach pain, feeling sick or being sick – these may be warning signs of an inflamed pancreas
  • muscle pain or weakness and you’re having dialysis treatment because of kidney failure
  • seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)

Serious Allergic Reaction of Taking Gabapentin

In rare cases, it’s possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to gabapentin.

Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:

  • your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
  • you’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)
  • your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow
  • your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
  • you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
  • someone faints and cannot be woken up
  • a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who’s unwell may also have a rash that’s swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.