Does gabapentin cause weight loss
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Gabapentin and Weight Change: An Analysis
Gabapentin and Weight Gain
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Findings
Gabapentin, a medication commonly prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy and neuropathic pain, has been associated with weight gain. A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis, which included 257 randomized trials, found that gabapentin use was linked to an average weight gain of 2.2 kg . This finding places gabapentin among several other drugs known to cause weight gain, such as amitriptyline and olanzapine.
Long-Term Studies on Gabapentin
Further supporting the association between gabapentin and weight gain, a study examining chronic, high-dose gabapentin therapy in patients with seizure disorders reported significant weight increases. Out of 44 patients treated for 12 or more months, 25 patients experienced weight gain, with 10 patients gaining more than 10% of their baseline weight and 15 patients gaining between 5% to 10% of their baseline weight . This weight gain typically began between the second and third months of treatment and stabilized after 6 to 9 months.
Gastroretentive Gabapentin Formulation
In a study focusing on a gastroretentive formulation of gabapentin (G-GR) for postherpetic neuralgia, patients experienced a mean weight change of +0.76 kg over a 24-week period . Although this weight gain was relatively modest, it still indicates a trend towards weight increase with gabapentin use.
Gabapentin and Weight Loss
Lack of Evidence for Weight Loss
Contrary to the weight gain findings, there is minimal evidence to suggest that gabapentin causes weight loss. In the study of chronic, high-dose gabapentin therapy, only 3 out of 44 patients experienced a weight loss of 5% to 10% of their initial weight . This suggests that weight loss is not a common side effect of gabapentin.
Conclusion
In summary, the evidence strongly indicates that gabapentin is associated with weight gain rather than weight loss. Multiple studies, including a large systematic review and meta-analysis, as well as long-term observational studies, consistently report weight gain as a side effect of gabapentin use 124. Therefore, patients and healthcare providers should be aware of this potential side effect when considering gabapentin for treatment.
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