Two drugs in the gabapentinoid family, gabapentin (GBP) and pregabalin (PGB), are often prescribed as painkillers. This can alter the function of the nervous system which may result in a difference in memory and the processes that end in the formation of memories. So yes, it can have an effect on your memory, but does gabapentin cause memory loss?

At Laguna Shores Recovery in Dana Point, California, we provide drug addiction treatment and other resources to help our clients successfully manage their conditions, and live the lives they deserve.

Gabapentin and Memory Loss

Studies indicate that gabapentin can result in memory problems:

• One study of individuals with spinal cord injuries discovered that GBP therapy was linked with a decline in memory, attention, and executive function.
• A study of adults aged 65 and up found that cognitive scores dropped after beginning GBP.
• A Taiwanese study showed a link between previous gabapentin use and being diagnosed with dementia.

Anti-seizure medications, such as gabapentin, work to limit seizures by dampening the flow of signals within your central nervous system. This medication basically slows down your brain. As a result, memory and attention and sleepiness are common side effects.

What is it Used For?

Gabapentin has been approved for use for:

• Control or prevent partial seizures. A partial seizure, also known as a focal seizure, starts in a specific brain area. The symptoms depend on the area of the brain that’s been affected. A seizure that affects the right side of the brain will affect the left side of the body. Adults and children over the age of 3 can use gabapentin for partial seizures and epilepsy.
• Reduce nerve pain in adults after an attack of shingles. Shingles is a painful rash that may appear many years after having chickenpox. The virus that causes chickenpox remains dormant in a part of your spinal nerve called the dorsal root ganglion. The virus gets reactivated (usually by stress), bringing on the shingles rash. This nerve pain is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
• Treating moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome. The brand name Horizant is approved for PHN and restless legs syndrome.
• In addition to these FDA-approved uses, healthcare providers sometimes use gabapentin off-label to treat:
  • Diabetic neuropathy pain–numbness of unpleasant tingling caused by diabetes-related nerve damage
  • Nerve pain in the back and neck from issues such as sciatica–a compression of the sciatic nerve
  • Hot flashes–sudden sensations of heat and sweating that may occur in women after menopause and in people being treated for breast cancer
  • Mood disorders such as anxiety
  • Alcohol use disorder (AUD)

Gabapentin for Autonomic Dysfunction After Brain Damage

• • Gabapentin can be useful in treating autonomic dysfunction after brain damage, especially in the post-acute phase. So, what is autonomic dysfunction? Autonomic dysfunction can cause sympathetic hyperactivity. Increased sympathetic activity is when the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) has increased activity and activates your body’s “fight-or-flight” response. Symptoms of increased sympathetic activity include:
    • Increased heart rate
    • Increased breathing
    • Elevated blood pressure
    • High body temperature
    • Sweating
    • Dilated pupils
    • Slower digestion
    • Reduced urine output

Gabapentin helps control autonomic changes. One series of 6 case studies used gabapentin to treat patients with severe traumatic brain injury. In 2 of the patients, other medications were also stopped without the symptoms reappearing.

Serious Side Effects of Gabapentin

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare professional immediately.

Common Side Effects

Less serious, more common side effects of gabapentin include:

• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Trouble speaking
• Infections that reappear
• Memory loss
• Weight gain
• Issues with coordination such as being unsteady, tremors, or jerky movements
• Vision issues such as unusual eye movements and double vision

Does Gabapentin React with Any Other Medications?

If you take gabapentin with medications or substances that cause severe sleepiness or reduced awareness such as:

• Certain anti-anxiety and sleep medications
• Antidepressants
• Antihistamines that contain cough, cold, and allergy products
• Drinking alcohol with gabapentin may increase dizziness or sleepiness
• Medications for depression such as fluoxetine, sertraline, and amitriptyline
• Seizure medications such as phenobarbital and primidone
• Medications for stomach problems–wait 2 hours after taking antacids that contain aluminum and magnesium before taking gabapentin
• General and local anesthetic or muscle relaxants taken before surgery
• Narcotic pain medications such as opioids

If you’re over 65 or have a condition that affects your lungs, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you have an increased risk for breathing issues. Also, watch for

increased sleepiness or decreased breathing when you begin using gabapentin or when your dose is increased. Get immediate attention if any of the more serious symptoms appear.

Is Gabapentin Addictive?

It’s not generally addictive, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be abused. Some studies have reported the misuse and abuse of gabapentin. If you are addicted, you’ll find it’s difficult to stop or you feel like you need to use it more often than prescribed.

How Can You Stop Treatment with Gabapentin?

If you suddenly stop taking GBP, there is a high chance of having seizures. You may need to gradually taper off the drug until you stop completely. GBP use can be phased out over one week, but the exact schedule depends on the individual. A slower taper allows a safer stoppage.

Don’t stop without speaking to a medical professional about how to safely stop. It can be dangerous to stop abruptly. It could make your symptoms worse and lead to seizures if you stop suddenly.

Recover From Drug Addiction at Laguna Shores Recovery

If you find that you or a loved one are experiencing an addiction to gabapentin or any other drug, there is comprehensive professional help available. Laguna Shores Recovery has a licensed and accredited treatment facility in Dana Point, CA. Our programs include:

• Medical detox: This is the first step in safely quitting. We have a fully supervised medical detox facility. Detox allows the body to rid itself of the substance and prepares the person for treatment.
• Residential treatment: Inpatient treatment secure from the stress and triggers of the outside world.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): MAT reduces the severity of withdrawal symptoms
  Healthcare professionals can prescribe medications to ease the discomfort of withdrawal and further cravings.
• Holistic treatment: Holistic rehab addresses your entire being

Holistic therapy includes your spirit, body, and mind, in the belief that all parts of you are interconnected.

In addition, we can also offer gender specific programs, behavior therapy, and individual and group therapy. Don’t wait for things to get better on their own. It won’t happen. Take control of your future and contact us today.