Does taking a tablet of Gabapentin cause side effects?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a type 1 diabetic female with hypertension, high cholesterol, and chronic kidney disease. I went to the ER for severe nerve pain and was prescribed Gabapentin 300 mg three times a day. I have been having some odd side effects. My hands and feet are very tingly and numb, my skin feels hot, my voice is hoarse, I keep stumbling into walls, and cannot concentrate. Are these normal side effects for this medicine? Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Symptoms like dizziness, dry mouth, and tiredness mentioned by you can be seen with both Gabapentin and Fluoxetine used by you. A total of 900 mg daily is not very excessive in normal patients but can be excessive in your case if your kidney functioning is extremely compromised. Stumbling into the walls and being unable to concentrate can also be due to hypoglycemic episodes. You have not mentioned the dosage of insulin you are taking. Patients with renal disease are sometimes at risk of developing hypoglycemic episodes which should be looked into in your case. Extreme fatigue can also be due to uremia caused by renal failure. To sum up I would like to know about your dosage of insulin and blood sugar levels during symptoms, levels of urea, and also the reason you were on Fluoxetine.

Thank you.