Hi, anyone taking Neurontin/Gabapentin have a difficult time urinating?

I had TKR and started on gabapentin 100mg bid. Started noticing urge to urinate but had to force the urine out. Developed UTI 4 weeks post operative. No connection made. Now 7 weeks post op. Symptoms back, frequent urge to void, had to push urine out. Just had 2nd urine culture taken. My ortho office nurse called and told me she suspects the gabapentin. Started a short taper and will monitor. Will not use gabapentin for next knee replacement. I am actually a pharmacist and did not research prior to starting. Very interesting.

I have the same problem.

Yes! I have thought for so long something was just wrong with me. I have that sometimes now even if I haven't taken any... And like you said, this is embarrassing, but if I talk to myself, it helps. For whatever reason. But yes, I have the same problem.

Yes. As a 62 year old man, Neurontin started effecting my urination immediately! I started at 600 mg before bedtime for restless leg syndrome. After a few months my doctor needed to increase my dose to maintain pain free legs. She increased me to 900 mg a day. The very next morning and ever since, It now takes what seems forever to start the urine flow! I was told that neurontin is used to desensitize the nerves, Which affects some muscles and organs in the body without harm! The bladder in some people are affected causing a slow urine stream. Hope this helps!

I also experience urinary retention after taking gabapentin..but it’s weird because i don’t suffer from urinary retention every time i take it and i take it every night at bedtime. I not only read it online but my doctor also told me that it definitely is a side effect from gabapentin. So i was wondering if anyone else will only suffer from urinary retention sometimes even though you take it every day? Didn’t think that was normal?!

Hi

I’m from the UK and have been searching the internet trying to look for answers as I have recently started to wean myself off gabapentin as I’ve been on 900mg daily for about 3years. I too have had bladder issues and numerous investigations done by urologists but nothing wrong, it’s only since I’m down to 300mg daily I’ve noticed I am urinating a lot more and normal urination , I was worried at first but then I thought could it have been the gabapentin, also my naturally thick curly hair is now extremely thin . I’m managing quite well up to now without this drug and awaiting a spinal fusion as 5 of my discs have collapsed due to degenerative disc disease and another have slipped that far forward it needs caging to put it back . Hope this might help you all

66 year old male that had problem for several months while taking Gabapentin. Problem got substantially improved but not 100%

I have been on Gabapentin for 6 months and have the same issue, and have also had 3 uti’s now. I’m weaning off it, and just trying to tolerate the nerve pain. Will the bladder return to normal, or is the damage from the drug permanent?

I am a 66 year old male taking gabapentin for sciatic pain. I have noted a strong correlation of trouble urinating and taking gabapentin. I take it at night and have substantial problems urinating in the morning and for a couple of hours after I get up. This effect dissipates as the day goes on and starts again within an hour of taking my evening dose.

Yes it does cause difficulty in urination, it is a rarer side effect but a known one.

Hi,,, I know this is a very old question from 2012 but I hope that you see it because I have been on this medication for 2 days and I looked up the side effects to see if anyone is having the same side effect like the one you described. I could not understand why out of nowhere I feel like I have to urinate but can’t! Yes! I react strangely to medication and Yes it is this medication causing it. I stopped and feel better now. Cheers

Yes i have the same trouble

I am having this same problem. I will feel the need to go, but have to concentrate to finally go and sometimes I feel like I have to go urgently, but then I can’t go. I also get blurred vision a lot. It helps with my pain, but I still have a strange burning sensation from my waist down. Doctors can’t figure it out.

I am on 200mg per day, and I also have to wait a while for the stream to start... Sometimes it takes a couple minutes, and other times a short time longer but I always urinate... This only lasts a few hours (up to 5-6 hrs) and then business as usual...

I had a problem peeing went to hospital well ER. They said I had an over active bladder. Dr. prescribed Vesicare so now I pee when my bladder fills up. I take Gralise (Gabapentin)