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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Gabapentin Cause Inappropriate Behaviour?

I have a friend who takes quite a bit of gapapetim (sp) and she seems to lose her moral compass when she does. She has serious back nerve probales and says she takes it for this. I have a feeling that she takes it for the high not just for her back. She has an implant in her back and has a lot of nerve pain from deteriorating disks. But she also loses any moral compass she appears to have when not under the influence. Is this a normal side effect?
Thu, 31 May 2018
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

I can understand your discomfort. Gabapentin is generally used with other medications to prevent and control seizures. It is also used to relieve nerve pain following shingles (a painful rash due to herpes zoster infection) in adults. Gabapentin is known as an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug. Gabapentin can provide good levels of pain relief to some people with postherpetic neuralgia and peripheral diabetic neuropathy.

Antiepileptic medications have been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior. Anyone considering the use of antiepileptic drugs must balance this risk of suicide with the clinical need. side effects of gabapentin:
•     Dizziness, Sleepiness, Ataxia, Fatigue
•     Drowsiness, Fluid retention (edema), Hostility, Nausea
•     Vomiting, Difficulty speaking, Jerky movements, Unusual eye movements.
effects and serious side effects:
•     Weight gain
•     Joint pain
•     Motion sickness
•     Blurred vision

Gabapentin can definitely cause behavioral effects. So try to reduce the dosage.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
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Does Gabapentin Cause Inappropriate Behaviour?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. I can understand your discomfort. Gabapentin is generally used with other medications to prevent and control seizures. It is also used to relieve nerve pain following shingles (a painful rash due to herpes zoster infection) in adults. Gabapentin is known as an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug. Gabapentin can provide good levels of pain relief to some people with postherpetic neuralgia and peripheral diabetic neuropathy. Antiepileptic medications have been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior. Anyone considering the use of antiepileptic drugs must balance this risk of suicide with the clinical need. side effects of gabapentin: •     Dizziness, Sleepiness, Ataxia, Fatigue •     Drowsiness, Fluid retention (edema), Hostility, Nausea •     Vomiting, Difficulty speaking, Jerky movements, Unusual eye movements. effects and serious side effects: •     Weight gain •     Joint pain •     Motion sickness •     Blurred vision Gabapentin can definitely cause behavioral effects. So try to reduce the dosage. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.