Can gabapentin cause you to gain weight and cause bloating in your stomach area cause every since?
Question posted by Alfredag on 27 June 2018
Last updated on 10 July 2022 by vasiladp
This question has also been asked and answered here: Does gabapentin cause weight gain?
3 Answers
Daniel Vasilaky writes that he experienced weight gain, in the form of bloating due to fluid retention, after taking Gabapentin, despite being highly active. Ask your doctor for an alternative. Discontinued this medication and eventually lost the retained fluid.
Hi Alfredag. Yes it most certainly can. I know from my own experience plus many others talking to me about the same thing happening to them. I gained over 80 pounds and I looked and felt like I was 6-7 months pregnant. I was even asked a few times if I was. It was very hard on my back and I still have problems with my back now. I had many other horrible side effects too. I took it for 8-9 years and I’m now slowly tapering off because I couldn’t handle it any longer. These drugs are poison (IMO) and should not be on the market! Take care
Just wondering, after you get off of it do you lose the weight? Also Cindy-59, how much were you taking and how are you tapering?
Hi TKMarsh. The medications that I was actually taking are Lyrica and Cymbalta which are the same type of drugs. I am off Lyrica and still tapering off Cymbalta. I started at 60 mg of Cymbalta and I’m down to approximately 20 mg. (99 beads). I’m tapering at 10% every 10-14 days. Sometimes I can go a bit faster; but sometimes I have to go a bit slower. We have to listen to what our bodies are telling us and go from there. I have started to lose a bit of weight; but most people I talk to say that they start to lose weight about 2-4 weeks after being completely off. I can’t wait
I agree, they are poison... I absolutely gained weight and I look pregnant, not the best look on a 53 yr old
I’ve definitely heard that it can.
Related topics
weight loss (obesity/overweight), anxiety, cough, pain, abdominal distension, hot flashes, gabapentin, weight, stomach, neuropathic pain
Further information
- Gabapentin uses and safety info
- Gabapentin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Gabapentin (detailed)
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