I was started on Neurontin about 5 days ago. For the past 3 days now I have had extreme diarrhea and incontinence. This is very embarrassing and has kept me house bound for 3 days now. There is nothing solid coming out despite the solid diet I am eating (BRAT diet.) It is all yellow water. I have severe stomach pain and a low grade fever, about 99.8. Could this be from the Neurontin? Or could I just be horribly sick?
Extreme diarrhea on Neurontin?
Question posted by tiffers2788 on 21 March 2012
Last updated on 30 November 2019 by Growroots
Added 21 March 2012:
Also, I was weighed at my rheumatologist appointment yesterday and weighed in at 165. 5 days prior, at my pcp's office I was weighed at 202. Is it possible that I have really lost all of that weight in so little time?!?
6 Answers
Growroots
30 Nov 2019
I started on 100 mg gabapentin 3 times a day November 1. I increased to 300 3 times a day a week later and two weeks after to 600 mg 3 times a day. I got diarrhea so I quit. I got headache and worse diarrhea. I then began coming off it properly. Still have headache and diarrhea. I have taken imodium, and diphenoxylate this week to no avail. I have the watery bowels every time I eat or drink. I lost 13 lbs. (I weigh over 200 so not too concerned here.) There is nothing to do for this diarrhea. Be aware of gabapentin!!!
bobbinapples
21 Sep 2019
I was prescribed Gabapentin and took it for many years - I never made the connection that it was the cause of my sudden IBS symptoms. Just as others say - like a fire hose of yellow water, food going right through me. This severely impacted my ability to absorb food, to the point where my bones were breaking every few months from seemingly impossibly small impacts (On one occasion my wrist broke when i pushed the freezer door closed a little to enthusiastically.)
If you have the symptoms noted in this thread, tell your doctor and STOP taking the medicine IMMEDIATELY. I am sure i have suffered untold damage due to chronic malnutrition caused by this medication for the 5 years I was on it. An ER doctor also told me i was malnourished during this period after doing blood work.
Best of luck to all of you, and I hope your doctors were able to prescribe a safe alternative medication.
Dmitritomasavich
1 June 2019
I get diarrhea from gabapentin, sometimes pretty intense, which will directly coincide with me dosing. Imodium helps me sometimes, but will take a couple days after consistent dosing to take effect.
Morkymindy65
23 July 2018
I have been on Gabapentin for many months. Only taking about 200 ml a day. A month ago my pain doc raised it to 600 ml 4 times a day, but I’ve only been taking 2 pills a day. I have had severe loose stools and diarrhea for a few weeks now. My Dr. thinks it’s IBS, but after reading some of the comments here I wonder if it could be related to the Gabapentin?
My Dr started me on Xifaxan for IBS on Friday but it isn’t working, so I’ve been taking Imodium or Kaopectate to slow things down. I too have to wear a Depends most of the time because of not making it to the bathroom. I’m very hungry and my Primary care Dr. has me on a bland diet. Anyone else know what I’m dealing with?
Draxxon
16 Nov 2017
Gabapentin caused me extreme diarrhea for 24 hours after first dose. Couldnt keep anything down. At first was a very severe pain in my gut about 5 hours after taking 300mg. After that the toilet became my best friend and I could not be more than 10 metres away from it. After initial gut pain which occured for around 1 - 2 hours the diarrhea continued throughout the night and next day. The gut pain turned into more a queezy stomache. The diarrhea was worse than having a stomache bug. Was extremely water basically a hose (recommened high intake of fluids to stop dehydration). I tried to eat in this period but would go straight through me and I felt as though i was starving. I am yet to talk to a doctor to see if a lower dose maybe a better option or if this will go away after a couple doses but in the mean time I am ceasing this medication as it was only one dose. It most certainly stops the nerve damage pain I got as a result from hip surgery however.
Will post back if I continue to take this medication and will mention what changes as i know this information will help some people as it did for me. Thanks guys
Bowhunters1
17 Feb 2018
I also was prescribed gabapentin 1800mg. I couldn't leave the bathroom during the day, and literally had to wear a diaper to bed. It was a nightmare. It took me 3 weeks to get it out of my system. And my stomach is still not right. Not to mention I take blood thinner, I had that tested this week and it was 7.4. It's supposed to be 2-3. So it's dangerously thin. I believe that gabapentin has done some havoc on my body, just in the 1 month I was on it. So be careful.anyone else have this kind of issue?
endlessPred
21 March 2012
Hi. This sounds like a number of problems. Either way you need to see a doc because there could also be something totally unrelated to the med or a stomach flu that may be wrong. And if you are allergic to the new med, you need to talk with the doc right away.
Even if this is a flu, you may also have an intestinal problem that is more serious. There are a whole bunch of infections that do this to people. And they don't just go away. They require treatment. Dysentery, e coli, etc.
So get in or give a call to the nurse, if you have that ability where you live, and do so right away. Today. This does not sound normal for a stomach flu. Let us know what they say. Ok?
endlessPred
21 March 2012
Hi. Back again. Had another thought. Stay hydrated. Lots and lots of water. This is one other reason to be checked. Dehydration will make you even sicker. And it becomes dangerous. I would bet you are dehydrated by now. It would be hard to drink enough not to be. Have someone give you a ride to the doc, urgent care or ER, whatever works for you. Don't drive on your own. You are probably sicker than you think. I know I get dumb that way when I am ill like you are. Not saying you are dumb, by the way, cause you are way ahead of me by asking for help! Hang in there.
tiffers2788
21 March 2012
Thank you endless, I am drinking TONS of gatorade and pedialite. And broth, like soup broth. But I do know that I am starving! Everything I eat seems to come right back out =[
endlessPred
21 March 2012
So what did the rheumatologist say about this? Surely something was said? Large weight loss, and the other symptoms sounds like it is more than just a name you were given for your condition.
Lots of bananas and rice do help. Though bland. Have you tried anything else? Sure isn't the best weight loss plan out there. lol
still think you should see a general physician or a GI doc if you have one.
endlessPred
21 March 2012
So what did the rheumatologist say about this? Surely something was said? Large weight loss, and the other symptoms sounds like it is more than just a name you were given for your condition.
Lots of bananas and rice do help. Though bland. Have you tried anything else? Sure isn't the best weight loss plan out there. lol
still think you should see a general physician or a GI doc if you have one.
tiffers2788
21 March 2012
I am going to my regular doctor in about an hour. The rheumatologist was very rushed. So I didnt mention the diarrhea or weight loss. I wasn't thinking clearly as it was yesterday, so the weight difference didn't even hit me til I had walked out of the office. Stupid on my part, I know. But I really have not been thinking clearly...
endlessPred
21 March 2012
Tiffers. Excellent. Let me know how it goes. Karen
tiffers2788
21 March 2012
My doctor seems to think I just have a nasty stomach virus and am being hit harder than normal due to a compromised immune system. Her scale has me at 189. While that is still a lot of weight to lose in such a short time, it is deff. more reasonable than the 165 the rheumatologists scale had me at. So my doctor has me taking Lomotil? to stop diarrhea, BRAT diet, lots of fluids and rest.
endlessPred
21 March 2012
Wonderful. Hope you start to feel better soon. Glad the doc could help you out. Keep resting and be sure to add water to those other drinks. They contain a lot of salts and that can slow you down with the autoimmune aspect, including edema, swelling.
Hang in there. :-)
tiffers2788
21 March 2012
I have been alternating between ice water and pedialite. And my food today consists of 2 bowls of soup. I tried toast, but threw it up =[
endlessPred
21 March 2012
They didnt give you something for nausea? Any how hang in there. It will be over soon. If fluids are all you can do then it is all you can do. My wishes go out to you for fast healing.
CNAeddie
2 Sep 2016
When I was involved with a chronic pain program, gabapentin was prescribed. I could not tolerate any amount beyond 100 mgs. More gave me terrible diarrhea. I checked it out numerous times. This message string doesn't resolve in a final outcome, so perhaps this person had some other problem. In my case, extreme diarrhea WAS CAUSED by gabapentin.
SweetBabe
29 April 2017
No, I had the same problem so I started tapering off this drug, it's awful it causes me the same thing, I am not surprised you had that problem.
Sherrie123
29 July 2017
I am on day two of gabapentin and haven't been able to leave the house due to severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. Should I just touch it out? Does it, eventually, get better? I really need the benefits of the drug, but, not at this cost :(. Thank you for any help you have!
Cigardude
1 Nov 2017
I have been on Gabapentin for the past 4 months. The first day was great and almost euphoric, but I couldn't shut the F up. Then I increased from 1200mg to 1600mg and the stomache issues became present. Now I am at 3600mg a day and I have diahrrea all the time. The drug would be great if they would tweak it to create less bowel issues.
Related topics
neurontin, diarrhea, urinary incontinence
Further information
- Neurontin uses and safety info
- Neurontin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Neurontin (detailed)
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