Gabapentin, or Neurontin, is an anti-seizure medication prescribed to reduce the incidence of seizure and treat nerve pain related to shingles, diabetic neuropathy or nerve compression. Drugs.com states that gabapentin increases GABA, a natural chemical in the brain, to reduce the onset of seizures. Researchers, however, are not sure how gabapentin affects nerve pain. Regardless, anyone taking this medication should be aware of the possible serious side effects and know what to do if they are experienced.
Chest Pain
According to Drugs.com, chest pain, or tightness, is a serious side effect associated with gabapentin use. This occurs because the chemicals in gabapentin may affect the muscles or blood vessels in the heart to cause chest pain. Proper diagnosis is required because the source of chest pain could be the gabapentin, or it could be a more serious medical condition, such as a heart attack. Therefore, any patient who is experiencing chest pain or tightness while taking gabapentin should seek immediate medical treatment.
Loss of Strength
The Mayo Clinic states that gabapentin may cause a loss of strength in the muscles. Increasing GABA can reduce the intensity of the neural signal sent from the brain to the muscles, according to the "Journal of Comparative Physiology." This results in a loss of strength in the muscles. In addition, a patient should be more concerned if weakness is only occurring on one side of the body. Anyone experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention. If the doctor determines this symptom is related to gabapentin, he may choose to discontinue gabapentin and prescribe a different medication to treat seizures or nerve pain.
Confusion
Drugs.com states that confusion is a serious side effect associated with gabapentin use. This effect occurs because gabapentin can alter chemical signals in the brain related to alertness and orientation. A patient should be able to accurately state who they are, where they are, the date and what is currently happening. If the patient is unable to answer these questions, or answers them inappropriately, medical treatment should be sought. While gabapentin may cause confusion, there can be an underlying medical disorder that is responsible for the confusion.
