My husband was born with a degenerative muscle and bone disease, much resembling MS, and has been through several different medications. The doctor recently prescribed Gabapentin to help with his problem of restless leg syndrome and pain. Within the first few days of taking this medication, I witnessed him have a grand mall seizure, which has never happened before. I am wondering because this medication is normally used for epilepsy, if it can actually CAUSE seizures if you are not normally prone to them.
Gabapentin - Has anyone suffered a seizure from taking this medication?
Question posted by mamagori11a on 26 Sep 2014
Last updated on 18 October 2023 by WildcatVet
10 Answers
WildcatVet
16 Oct 2023
Listed as a well known side effect of amitriptyline, an TCA antidepressant:
"Nervous system
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Convulsions"
Well known side effect of certain anticonvulsants:
Neurontin -
Common (1% to 10% of users): Seizures,
Lamictal -
Common (1% to 10% of users): Seizure exacerbation"
WildcatVet
16 Oct 2023
This is from the Side Effects here on Drugs.com and also on the Patient Information sheet that comes with the prescription:
"Nervous System -
Common (1% to 10% of users): Abnormal gait, incoordination, neuralgia, tremor, dysarthria, hyperkinesia, SEIZURES, dysarthria, paresthesia, hypesthesia, coordination abnormal, increased/decreased/absent reflexes, vertigo"
Alwaysmacie
16 Oct 2023
It all started with amitriptyline for the Type One Diabetic complication- peripheral neuropathy.
After taking it, the next morning I had a full fledged Grandmal seizures. I was 29. My doctor put me on Tegretol and Depakote for idiopathic epilepsy for 10 years. I slept day and night, was dangerously skinny and had flat affect. Then I changed
doctors and I was switched to Neurontin. Every time I'd have a seizure she would increase the medication. I ended up taking 2800mg of Neurontin. The seizures got worse. I had 3-5 grand seizures a day with many more peti-mal in between. By 2000, I was completely disabled. The doctor scheduled me for a corpus collisum split. I insisted this disorder started with the use of amitriptyline.
Not one hospital staff would listen so I called an outside neurologist while in my padded hospital bed and asked for help. I was hooked up to the leads of an EEG having seizures right before the new doctor. He ordered a stop to all medications for 24 hours and a repeat EEG. In that time the seizures had remarkably stopped. A couple of days later I was discharged from the hospital and went home *never to have a grand mal seizure again. At that time, my new neurologist said it was due to the anti-convulsant Neurontin. However I believe all of the anti-convulsants played a huge part in taking away 14 years of my life.
* In 2003 I was given a medication to help me sleep it was called Lunesta. The next day, I had a grand mal seizure at Home Depot. I stopped the medicine and haven't had any seizures since.
Renfro88
18 March 2020
I had one from taking gabapentin.
beefsister
25 Nov 2018
I feel fully validated that I'm not the only one that this has happened to. I was prescribed 100 mg of gabapentin 3 times a day and noticed uncontrolled movements in my eyes the first night of taking it. Last night I took my 2nd dose of 100 mg of gabapentin and had my first seizure. This was an extremely terrifying experience. I suffered split wounds on my chin and a 4 inch long impact wound to the top of my head from hitting the walls and floors from when I was seizuring. 6 staples to my head and 2 stitches later and I'm feeling a little put back together. The doctors smirked when I told them I had a seizure from a medication meant to treat them. And they told me to keep taking them because they were sure it was merely an episode of fainting. I've realized you have to do your own research into these types of things and not put all your faith into doctors because they clearly were unaware of the rare and life threatening side effects of this medication (seizures).
If you experience these symptoms and are told to continue taking them- please, please always get a second opinion because this is life/death situation.
Sweedypie2
6 May 2019
I once thought, “If my doctor had only given me Gabapentin 100 mg capsules, I wouldn’t have developed an uncontrollable movement disorders after only taking two consecutive doses.” I didn’t have a grand mal seizure, like you described. My permanent twitching and jerking disorder began with a visual disturbance of seeing bright pinpoints of colorful lights, accompanied with rapid hand flapping, with an internal burning sensation. Then uncontrollable movements spread rapidly throughout my body and never resolved. - I wish I had listened to the warning my brain gave me from the first 300 mg dose that made my slight hand tremor worse. - Some people get away without having any neurological disturbance, but it’s probably more common than doctors think. I think patients know the difference between fainting or having a seizure, and doctors making light of these kinds of reactions is one reason Gabapentin has become so popular.
This RX was originally FDA approved as an anti-epileptic drug. The manufacturer pled guilty of violating the False Claims Act, then paid a $430 million fine. The FDA also approved it as a postherpetic neuralgia from Shingles. The Franklin vs Warner Lambert judgment didn’t interfere with doctors ability to prescribe it for multiple off label uses. - I believe these adverse reactions have to happen to doctors before they take us seriously.
RighteousNixon
26 May 2018
I had a seizure taking it for the very first time. Had an appointment with my pain management doctor that same day. He prescribed the Gabapentin and I took it around 3 in the afternoon. I woke up a couple hours later completely unable to talk and had almost no control of my muscles. My arms were shaking like crazy and even my vision was effected. Everything looked pixelated. I was also getting electric shocks in my head that would come and go. Called 911, went to the ER where they gave me a bunch of fluid and slowly my muscle movement and ability to speak came back. Unfortunately, my vision has been noticeably worse since that event. I used to have 20/15 vision and ever since that night I have been unable to read small letters, like labels on food. Its now been around 2 months since I took it and my eyesight still hasn't gone back to normal.
I looked up seizures and Gabapentin and the journal or pharmacy & pharmacology, they reported 5 seizures during the trails of the drug. So while its known as an anti-seizure medication, it can cause seizures with some people. I know that first hand. Will never take it again.
Sweedypie2
26 May 2018
Can you explain “pixelated,” since I also had a visual disturbance during the onset of my uncontrollable movement disorder? Mine were like bright pinpoints of moving lights that lasted several minutes. At the same time, rapid hand flapping started in my left hand with an internal burning. Irregular arm punching began and my feet were going around in circles. That night, both my shoulders started shrugging constantly and my neck started turning back and forth, like I was saying, “No!” I was yelling, “This drug is ruining me!” I felt too humiliated to go to the ER, but I wish I had gone to get it documented. - My doctor said, “Side effects always wear off.” My brain MRI results say I have a non-enhancing white mass on the hypothalamus, which is adjacent to the optic chiasma and right optic nerve. That’s terrible that your vision has worsened. Were you given the 300 mg capsules?
RighteousNixon
2 July 2018
Again, the best way I can describe it was like being in the game Minecraft. Just look at old video games like Atari 2600. Instead of having clear vision, it was al distorted and appeared to be made up of tons of little boxes making up the image, almost like a collage. And I would get these intense zaps in my brain every time it happened. That was actually one of the symptoms that scared me the most. Have just never experienced anything like it. And again, my vision has not been the same since. I am basically seeing double. Its much more noticeable with words than pictures. I see the letters and then a ghosting of the letters up above. Had a CAT scan and normal MRI done of my head and both were normal. I am now scheduled for a MRI that looks at the blood vessels in the brain. Had an appointment with a neurologist and she noticed one of my pupils is larger than the other, which is not something I ever had before. Also getting frequent headaches at the very back of my head.
Never had headaches like that in my entire life. I wish I never would have taken in and most certainly never will again.
RighteousNixon
2 July 2018
And yes, I was given 300mg capsules and was told to go ahead and start out taking 2 instead of 1 like the subscription stated. The pain management doctor told me since I was still somewhat younger to just start out at 2. So my initial dose was 600mg.
Sweedypie2
2 July 2018
I’m glad you answered my reply RighteousNixon. We’re just too trusting when it comes to RX drugs, but we can only hope that others will look for Gabapentin reviews.
Not everyone has bad reactions to this drug during introduction, but since it was originally approved as an anti-epileptic drug to slow down the firing of neurons, I think it can be a big shock to the brain, like it was in cases listed.
I had to research another drug after having my January MRI with the Gadolinium contrast, which was my 3rd one, I had a few side effects. The Tinnitus is still going on in both ears, which is very annoying.
If you’re on FB, you could search for “MRI Gadolinium Contrast Awareness “ Group.
Since you mentioned that you’re scheduled for an MRI, I’m sure you want to be better informed than you were with Gabapentin.
Beth
Sweedypie2
27 Oct 2017
I’m glad your husband didn’t develop permanent grand mal seizures. I had an adverse reaction during the introduction to Gabapentin. I developed uncontrollable movements in 2008 after the 2nd consecutive 300 mg dose of Gabapentin. I have non epileptic seizures that are mainly twitching and jerking but worst of all, I lost the ability to control a smile. The doctor wouldn’t give me my brain MRI results that shows a 5 mm white non-enhancing area on my hypothalamus gland. I reported what happened to me to Med Watch. They sent me a thank you letter but said they needed one or two well documented reports, which means they need a report from the prescribing doctor. So introduction can cause seizures.
Tamita
29 April 2018
This is happening to me. Almost like when Dr gave me benzos. Bad experience! Unable to take any of those either!
Kjhall90
11 June 2020
Is convulsion same as seizure? If not, is one worse than the other ? When I tried stopping gabapentin I went into convulsions.
Inactive
26 April 2015
Gabapentin is expressedly one of the medications that are used for seizures.
You should tell your doctor and if he doesn't do anything - then see another
doctor who may know more about Gabapentin. I would slowly taper down until
your husband is off of them completely - by then you should have contacted
another doctor/neurologist and see if they have something else to give him
for his medical problems. Good luck and may God bless you both.
Trish
Hastings88
26 April 2015
In response to this, about 12 years ago I was trying different medications for mood swings, I tried this medication and within the 1st couple days of using this medication I had my 1st seizure, told my doctor about it and he kinda just looked at me like I was crazy because people sometimes use gabapetin to prevent seizures, I was removed from this medication and ive never had another seizure since then, it was the most scariest thing ive ever been through while trying out different medications
kaismama
26 Sep 2014
Stopping it abruptly will cause seizures. There is a rare side effect of seizures with it. Has he seen a neurologist?
Related topics
multiple sclerosis, seizures, gabapentin, doctor, muscle, prescription, medication, bones, disease, bone
Further information
- Gabapentin uses and safety info
- Gabapentin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Gabapentin (detailed)
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