Gabapentin adverse effects

A number of non-hormonal therapies have been studied for symptomatic management of vasomotor symptoms, including antidepressants [e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and venlafaxine], herbal products (e.g., soy, black cohosh, and dong quai), and a group of miscellaneous agents (e.g., gabapentin, clonidine, and megestrol). The choice of therapy depends on the patient s concomitant disease states, such as depression and hypertension, and the risk for potential adverse effects. 

Gabapentin is generally well tolerated, with somnolence, dizziness, and ataxia the most commonly reported adverse effects. A low incidence of potentially serious... 

Gabapentin is generally well tolerated in adult patients, and adverse effects of the drug are usually mild to moderate in severity (AHFS, 2000). The most frequent adverse effects of gabapentin as adjunctive therapy are somnolence, dizziness, and asthenia (Bruni, 1998). 

Changes in body weight associated with anticonvulsants have been reviewed (116), including the effects of the antiepileptic drugs that have been most commonly associated with this adverse effect (valproic acid, carbamazepine, vigabatrin, and gabapentin) (117). Unlike most anticonvulsants, topiramate, felbamate, and zonisamide can cause weight loss. 

Gabapentin 900 mg Divided inthree daily doses Adverse effects include somnolence and dizziness these symptoms often can be obviated with a gradual increase in dosing... 

BZs should be reserved for patients at low risk of substance abuse, those who require rapid relief, or those who have not responded to other therapies. Clonazepam is the most extensively studied BZ for treatment of generalized SAD. It improved fear and phobic avoidance, interpersonal sensitivity, fears of negative evaluation, and disability measures. Adverse effects include sexual dysfunction, unsteadiness, dizziness, and poor concentration. Clonazepam should be tapered at a rate not to exceed 0.25 mg every 2 weeks. Gabapentin was effective for SAD, and onset of effect was 2 to 4 weeks. j8-Blockers blunt the peripheral autonomic symptoms of arousal (e.g., rapid heart rate, sweating, blushing, and tremor) and are often used to decrease anxiety in performance-related situations. For specific SAD, 10 to 80 mg of propranolol or 25 to 100 mg of atenolol can be taken 1 hour before the performance. A test dose should be taken at home on a day before the performance to be sure adverse effects wUl not be problematic. Incomplete response to a first-line agent may benefit from augmentation with buspirone or clonazepam. 

Gabapentin is generally well-tolerated, with only mild adverse effects... 

The use of gabapentin has been reviewed (2). Its adverse effects are limited to neuropsychological disorders, namely dizzy spells, drowsiness, fatigue, and headache. The risk of interactions is also limited. 

In an uncontrolled trial using dosages up to 6000 mg/day in 50 patients with refractory partial epilepsy, tiredness, dizziness, headache, and diplopia were the most common adverse effects (4). At dosages above 3600 mg/day three patients developed flatulence and diarrhea and two had myoclonic jerks. At least in some patients, gabapentin gastrointestinal absorption did not become saturated within the explored dosage range. 

Drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, or ataxia are seen in 10-20% of patients who use gabapentin (SEDA-19, 70) (SEDA-20, 62) (10). Of 240 adults followed for about 1 year, only 4% discontinued treatment because of adverse events (SEDA-19, 70). Adverse effects... 

In a comparison of twice- and thrice-daily gabapentin, 29 stable responders were selected and followed for 3 months (13). The mean number of seizures per month was 4.2 at baseline, 1.0 during the thrice-daily and 0.9 during the twice-daily period. Adverse effects were reported by 11 patients during the thrice-daily period and by five patients during the twice-daily period sedation and vertigo were the most frequent. 

Of 12 patients with moderate to severe dementia and severe behavioral disorders given gabapentin (200-1200 mg/day) for 8 weeks, 5 had adverse events such as gait instability, emotional instability, and sedation two patients discontinued treatment prematurely because of severe adverse effects (15). 

The role of gabapentin in patients with neuropathic pain has been evaluated in a systematic review (16). The most common adverse events were dizziness and somnolence, which occurred in about 25% of patients ataxia occurred in about 8%. Adverse effects were dose-related. 

B Advantages. Gabapentin has multiple mechanisms of action and is mechanistically different from first-generation AEDs. It is not metabolized and is excreted unchanged by the kidney. Gabapentin has the additional advantages of a broad therapeutic index with minimal CNS adverse effects and no drug interactions. Doses can be escalated rapidly. 

Adverse effects of gabapentin are gastrointestinal disturbances, mild sedation and ataxia. 

Overall, gabapentin is well tolerated with the most common adverse effects of somnolence, dizziness, ataxia, and fatigue. These effects usually are mild to moderate in severity but resolve within 2 weeks of onset during continued treatment. 

Adverse effects of gabapentin are uncommon and not serious. The CNS effects include mild to moderate sedation, fatigue, ataxia, headache, dizziness, and diplopia. Gabapentin may exacerbate myoclonus, but the effect is mild and does not require discontinuance of the drug (53,74). It has been associated with the development of neuropsychiatric adverse events in children. 

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