Gabapentin side effects?

This could be because of the gabapentin since short term memory loss is a side effect of gabapentin.

I have taken Gabapentin for the past 9 years. I take 3200 mgs per day (800mg X 4) My memory has gotten worse since the day I started this medication. It does help with pain, but comes at a price of which is memory loss.

Interesting. Have been taking 3600mg now for a month up from 3000mg on a move up over last 3 months. Done for depression. Memory problems been blamed on other things which indeed have caused problems before but now memory and being able to put two words together in a sentence while talking is near impossible. Scared! Anyone else on this much? For depression? How's one wean off? Withdraw? . Thanks

Gabapentin affects my memory and my speech. Words come out wrong, even when I've thought them out correctly. It also makes my legs swell and I'm only on 300 - 600mg a day.
Are there studies proving it causes Alzheimer's, or is that coincidental?
Thinking about throwing mine away.

I landed on this by accident and I felt I needed to add my 2 cents. I have 2 daughters ages 8 and 23. Both have Ehlers-Danlos and the older daughter is also being treated for Fibro. BOTH girls have taken gabepention and both have memory problems, they both have been off of it and back on. The 8 year old has so much trouble she cannot yet read, at age 3 she was developmentally on track but by age 5 was mildly delayed and now is listed as severely delayed in both cognitive and motor function. I asked repeatedly how she could have regressed but no one can answer this. My older daughter is taking Gralise which I was told is just an extended release of the gabepenton. her cognitive function and memory loss is continually getting worse. She was in advanced classes almost the entire time she was in school but can't remember her birthday now. I fear that there may be premanent damage for both, esp my younger daughter. But I will never have proof either way. Good luck to all of you

I realize some of the responses are older but I feel so strongly about this!

I saw my General Internist specialist last week and complained about all my cognitive issues. I told him I had NO short term memory left, I was spacing out and finding myself staring straight ahead but without any real thoughts going through my head. He laughed and said oh, yes that is the "high" with Gabapentin. I had no idea, but as I continued to describe my issues, I specifically ask him if my issues were coming from Gabapentin and he said no! He said it might cause a bit of brain fog but nothing else. I was describing hardly being able to function but he insisted it wasn't the drug and he wanted me to increase my dose... I was on 2700 mg per day already... I refused. I am not weaning myself to decrease the dose and have gone down to 1800 mg per day and now my pain level has gone up by quite a bit but I'd rather have that instead of feeling like my mind had totally gone!!!

I have been using Gabapentin for about 5 years ago. My husband thinks I have lost my mind. Forgetting things is bad enough, but I tend to use the wrong word, when I clearly thought it correctly. In addition, I start in the middle of a thought instead of starting at the beginning. My articulation is growing increasingly hard to convey. I know it is from the medication because when my pain is somewhat controlled, I take less medication and tend to be sharper in my thought process. I have fibromyalgia and the pain is so severe and there are so many layers of symptoms that the medication helps control, that having a box of rocks for brains is better than having no quality of life.

I am 54 years old guy, been prescribed Gabapentin for over 2 years now. It was for me a tough pill to start, came down to having hallucinations for first few weeks but body seemed to acclimate to it. Short term memory is truthfully pretty much gone, long term seems pretty good though. My doctor increased my dosage and a bad stroke I had last year from 600 MG a day to 900 MG. I feel it too.

I was taking Gabapentin about a year ago for siatica and stopped after an operation on my back (discectomy L4/L5) unfortunately the pain has returned due to a bulging disk (L3/L4) so I'm back on 300mg 3 times a day with several other tablets. I was in so much pain before my operation that everything was a blur, this time round I'm not quite as bad but I've realised how bad my short term memory is and I really don't like it.

I, too, take Gabapentin - not only did I have short term memory problems,
but I stumbled around walking like someone is drunk and had many
falls. I was on 600 mg a day, so I tapered off to 300 mg. My memory is a bit
better - but I have an autimmune disease called: Prurigo Nodularis and
need something to stop the insane itching and many sores all over my body.
Tell the doctor what you mother is going through and perhaps he'll have the
sense to try and put her on something less dangerous to her living.
God bless you both and Good Luck.
Trish

I recently started Gabapentin/Nerount.

My ability to focus has severely diminished. My short term memory has been dramatically reduced. It give new meaning to "one day at a time" since I can't remember yesterday.

Will this go away over time?

Please don't say ask my local physician. He's incompetent and dangerous. He has no idea regarding medication interactions or Ned side affects. He did however Google an article duri my visit.

What are your experiences with this medication?

Pjc1

Dear gram gram, I'm glad to come across with your question because it made me aware somehow as my mom also takes gabapentin due to post herpetic neuralgia (phn) which is the usual long term effect of post shingles. She has been taking this medication for about 6 months now. And so far I have not noticed her having any sign of memory loss. But this has aroused my concern because long term use may lead my mom to memory loss. Recently though, I have her taper the frequency of taking such medication as the major piercing nerve pain that bothered her for about 5 months is gone after taking Moringa oleifera. You may try giving your mom this amazing supplement it might help her with her phn and other health issues if any. Thanks.

I used to take Lyrica, which is like a sisterdrug to gabapentin, & was having horrible short term memory problems to the point I went to see a neurologist. I am no longer on Lyrica, & the short term memory problems have ceased. Hopefully this will be the case for your Mother. Once the shingles are gone, & she can get off the gabapentin, she should be ok... Mary