View Full Version : Neurontin and weight gain
I'm currently taking 900mg of neurontin 3 times a day with little relief from the burning pain we SCI all know about. Is this the cause of my weight gain ~ mostly around the midsection ~ or simply, I don't know, "quad-belly"? The result of sitting in a chair all day long? Wish someone had mentioned weight gain as a side effect! And if I go off the neurontin since it's not that effective anyway, how easy will it be to lose the weight? What other drug(s) may work?
The elavil I take at bedtime (50mg) does the trick for sleeping. I'm wondering about taking it during the day.
Any suggestions, anyone?
I have the same problem with weight. I believe that Pfizer even admits that on their website. I noted that you take Elavil. I have found that drug more effective then Neurontin for burning pain. Unfortunately it gives me bladder problems so I can't take much of it.
What kind of bladder problems? What are you presently using for pain?
singin_intherain
11-10-2005, 08:30 PM
I'm currently taking 900mg of neurontin 3 times a day with little relief from the burning pain we SCI all know about. Is this the cause of my weight gain ~ mostly around the midsection ~ or simply, I don't know, "quad-belly"?
I'm sorry I can't offer any pain relief input, but I did gain some weight the year I started neurontn. I was taking a pretty low dose of neurontin--300mg, only at night b/c I couldn't handle the drunk feeling--and I lost 10-12 lbs maybe over the course of cutting it out over 5-6 months this year. I'm pretty small so that's not insignificant. It could be muscle or bone, and I've lost a few more pounds since I finished cutting it three months ago. I speculate that may be 4-AP making me lose weight...but that's a separate percolating post.
My doctor did tell me neurontin causes weight gain, but not at a dose as low as mine. but maybe it should be dose relative to body weight. I fear I might have dipped below 100 now, and I'm generally sensitive to meds, so 300 might have been a big dose for me.
RE AB FAT: I DO know that the hormone cortisol (called the stress hormone I think) is supposed to put on ab fat. I personally experienced more than once my body changing and gaining an unusual amt of ab fat with steroids (both oral and IV). I have had a few experiences that will prevent me from ever again underestimating the power of hormones on everything: fat gain and distrib, cognition, emotion.
I am not confident this offers any practical help but I send along good wishes in any case. I have read a good author that made a lot of what I've experienced make sense, relates diet and weight and hormones. i don't remember specifics but she has books for both women and men. Her name is Larrian Gillespie and her books have ridiculous titles but seem smarter than they sound.
…Searching for her I realize she is more a low-carb pop persona than I realized, but I find her science convincing and in line with my experience. If you want to check her out:
Pre- and peri-menopusal women: http://www.goddessdiet.com/
Menopausal and post- women: http://www.menopausediet.com/
Men: http://www.gladiatordiet.com/
singin_intherain
11-10-2005, 08:40 PM
And if I go off the neurontin since it's not that effective anyway, how easy will it be to lose the weight?
I had a hell of a time cutting the neurontin, suffered its absence much more than adding it ever seemed to benefit me. Please consider doing it really gradually and in consult with a doctor you trust.
Going off did make me lose weight I think. see my last post.
I Just got off neurotin. It wasnt doing much for the burning. I was on 1800mgs a day. I also noticed my hair was coming out. My DR told me to cut it down slowly. I took 1200mgs the first week then 600mgs the last week and now since monday i have been off and feel okay so far.
Lois, inspite of my weight problem with Neurontin, I continue to use it, 2100mg daily, as it is the only drug that I get any relief from. My bladder problem with Elavil was that it seemed to slow down my urine stream and cause some retention. I believe this is true for a number of antidepressants.
Thanks for your input, all. I'm due to see my rehab doctor later this month and will see what she thinks. Meanwhile I'll see about modifying my diet (once all the Halloween candy is gone ~ Ha!) and getting more exercise.
Have a good one!
Lois
razzle51
11-11-2005, 01:19 PM
well hate to be the bearer of bad news but Neurontin and Ameritriptiline are both very big weight gainers. It is writen in all the medical books etc as a side effect. My dr. weaned me off the neurontin , which I had no problem and put me on Topamax . The Ameritriptiline was easy also to get off of. I had gained 45 lbs being on 3600 mg neurontin a day and 50 amerit at night. I have now lost close to 35 lbs and feel great . I was even beginning to go in a state of depression because I have always been a small person. It is very hard to find a med that is not a weight gainer. My husband is reseaching that is to why all the drug companies have that and dry mouth , constipation as a side effect and try to come up with something that wont cause that and we would all be happy campers. take care, Roz
Besides the weight gaining aspects of Neurontin, I think you will find if you scan this website that it also contributes to memory loss. It certainly has for me. I think it would be neat if instead of coming up with another almost the same pill as Pfizer did with Lyrica, they would put some research money into coming up with a better drug that is really designed for CP instead of preventing seizures.
feisty
11-11-2005, 09:35 PM
Besides the weight gaining aspects of Neurontin, I think you will find if you scan this website that it also contributes to memory loss. It certainly has for me. I think it would be neat if instead of coming up with another almost the same pill as Pfizer did with Lyrica, they would put some research money into coming up with a better drug that is really designed for CP instead of preventing seizures.
Ok.
thank you.
I feel exactly the same... I'm ditzier than ever, and I'm not eating any carbs to maintain. lol
razzle51
12-04-2005, 02:36 PM
Neurontin causes may things , as decay iin your teeth and like you said memory lose.
jennifer_quadchick05
12-04-2005, 02:40 PM
yes that was my problem i was taken 1200 mg 3 times daily....i got switched over to topamax and ive lost weight. if u wanna ask more info pm me
metronycguy
12-08-2005, 10:27 PM
Neurontin causes may things , as decay iin your teeth and like you said memory lose.
amitriptyline causes tooth decay for sure, i think topamx is also worse than amitriptyline for tooth decay, anything that causes dry mouth= no saliva to wash away the harmful bacteria.. there was an article last month about drinking cranberry juice to stop tooth decay. i mak esure i drink about 8 oz a day now, its very bitter, so it need to be cut or mixed with something
Broknwing
12-08-2005, 10:59 PM
I also switched from Neurontin to Topamax...A big reason b/c I wanted to get away from the side effects of the Neurontin...a biggie being the weight gain. Since being on the Topamax, I've lost most, if not all of the weight that I gained while I was on the Neurontin. I am so glad to be rid of it. I am a lot more clear-headed now and hadn't even realized that the Neruontin was doing that. I highly recommend that if you can do a switch from Neurontin to Topamax, you do so....Neurontin has a number of negative side effects....Feel free to PM or E-mail me if you wish...
metronycguy
12-08-2005, 11:08 PM
i had a lot of problems with topomax though, i think the neurontin calmed the nerves in my toes and top of foot that i could put a shoe on, now with lyrica i can put a shoe on again.
i developed RSD and major foot problems , multiple cavities with in months when i was on topoax so i am always suspicious of it. however the weight reversal was a big plus. i was cathing 2 times a day still with the neurontin, when i sopped neurontin i was able to empty under 100ml, and was able to stop cathing, however neurontin did give me great pain relief
chickamoo
04-05-2009, 04:28 PM
Even if they had told me wight gain 'might' happen I would still have started taking gabapentin....I needed help but......surely we as adults can find a way to control this without taking 'more' drugs! I constantly feel the need to eat, I work full time and damn hard, I walk briskly for at least an hour every day....HELP!
Following are excerpts from respected MEDLINE articles:
Oxford Journals QJM 2007 100(7):395-404;
http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/...ract/100/7/395
Several drugs... used in the treatment of chronic disease, are consistently associated with weight gain as a side effect.
Cleve Clin J Med. 2003 Jul;70(7):614, 616,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12882383
Weight gain caused by antidepressant drugs is a major reason for patient noncompliance with treatment and poor treatment outcome.