Gabapentin Side Effects a Top Doctor Wants Women To Know, Plus Who’s at Higher Risk
Get pro tips to reduce your risk of unwanted symptoms
Key Takeaways
- Gabapentin can be an effective treatment for anxiety and pain, but it can cause side effects
- Certain people, like older adults and those with kidney issues, may be more susceptible
- Simple ways to mitigate side effects include starting with a low dose and taking it at night
If you’ve been prescribed gabapentin to treat nerve pain, anxiety, restless leg syndrome (RLS) or another condition, you may have questions about what to expect—especially when it comes to side effects. This medication can offer real relief, but it’s not without trade-offs. Here, psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen, MD, author of Change Your Brain Every Day, explains how gabapentin works, who’s most at risk for side effects and how to use it wisely as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Gabapentin side effects women need to know
Gabapentin is an antiseizure medication that calms overactive nerve signaling in the brain and body, explains Dr. Amen. “It mimics GABA, one of the brain’s primary calming neurotransmitters, which helps reduce excessive electrical activity—especially in pain pathways and anxiety circuits,” he says.
Think of gabapentin as a dam that holds back the flood of pain signals, preventing them from overwhelming the brain’s pain processing centers. “Because of this calming effect, it’s often helpful for nerve pain and sometimes for anxiety,” Dr. Amen notes. “But when you slow the brain down, you can also experience side effects.”
Woman's World Answers
Some of the most common side effects of gabapentin include:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Brain fog or memory problems
- Blurred vision
“Some people also report weight gain or swelling in the legs,” Dr. Amen adds. “In my work, anything that causes brain fog always gets my attention—because when your brain isn’t working optimally, neither are you.”
Who’s at higher risk for gabapentin side effects?
Side effects like drowsiness and dizziness are fairly common, especially when someone first starts the medication or increases the dose. “In clinical practice, many people experience at least mild fatigue early on,” says Dr. Amen.
Certain people, however, are more vulnerable:
- Older adults are more sensitive to medications that slow the brain and may experience confusion or balance problems.
- Individuals with kidney issues may have higher levels of the drug in their system, since the kidneys are responsible for clearing gabapentin from the body.
- People already struggling with low brain activity, which Dr. Amen often sees in depression or brain fog, may feel even more sluggish on gabapentin.
“This is why I always say that one size does not fit all,” Dr. Amen cautions. “You have to look at the whole brain and body, not just the symptom. Anxiety or pain are signals, not final diagnoses, and understanding the root causes matters.”
What are a few off-label uses for gabapentin?
Gabapentin was originally approved for seizures and nerve pain, but it’s commonly used “off-label” for a variety of conditions. Here, a few of those uses:
Pain
“Gabapentin is frequently prescribed for neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, which is pain after shingles, fibromyalgia and other nerve-related pain syndromes,” explains Dr. Amen.
Anxiety and panic disorder
It’s sometimes used for anxiety and panic disorder, especially when traditional medications aren’t tolerated. “It may also be prescribed for sleep problems, alcohol withdrawal and occasionally as an add-on for bipolar disorder,” Dr. Amen says. “That said, it’s not a first-line treatment for most mental health conditions.”
Dr. Amen urges caution when it comes to off-label use: “Just because something is used off-label doesn’t mean it’s the best option. At Amen Clinics, we aren’t opposed to using medication—but it should never be the first or only treatment you try.”
The pros and cons of gabapentin
Doctors often choose gabapentin because it’s generally well tolerated, non-addictive in the traditional sense and doesn’t suppress breathing the way some pain medications do, Dr. Amen points out. “It can also be a helpful alternative to opioids for nerve pain and may feel ‘gentler’ than some psychiatric medications for anxiety or panic disorder.”
The benefits of gabapentin include:
- Calming overactive nerve pain
- Reducing anxiety
- Helping with sleep
- Lower risk of traditional addiction compared to opioids
But there are drawbacks:
- Sedation and brain fog
- Potential for misuse in some populations
- It doesn’t treat root causes; it mainly manages symptoms
This last point is critical, Dr. Amen emphasizes. “We should always ask why symptoms are happening. If you only quiet the signal without addressing the cause, you may miss something important.”
3 key ways to mitigate the side effects of gabapentin
If you’re experiencing unwanted effects from gabapentin, there are strategies that may help. Dr. Amen recommends:
- Start with a low dose of gabapentin and slowly increase it. Gradually increasing the dose gives your body time to adjust.
- Take it at night if it causes drowsiness. This way, sedation works in your favor.
- Avoid combining it with alcohol or other sedating substances, which can further lower brain function and blood flow.
The bottom line on gabapentin side effects
Gabapentin can be helpful for nerve pain and anxiety, but like any medication, it comes with trade-offs. “Your brain is the organ of your mind,” Dr. Amen reminds us. “When it’s healthy, you think better, feel better and live better. When you’re considering any medication, including gabapentin, the goal shouldn’t just be symptom relief. It should be building a better brain and a better life.”
His advice? Don’t settle for just symptom relief. Work with your doctor to address root causes and create a treatment plan that supports your whole health.
Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
