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What Side Effects can Gabapentin Cause?

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Clumsiness or unsteadiness
  2. continuous, uncontrolled, back-and-forth, or rolling eye movements

More common in children

  1. Aggressive behavior or other behavior problems
  2. anxiety
  3. concentration problems and change in school performance
  4. crying
  5. depression
  6. false sense of well-being
  7. hyperactivity or increase in body movements
  8. rapidly changing moods
  9. reacting too quickly, too emotional, or overreacting
  10. restlessness
  11. suspiciousness or distrust

Less common

  1. Black, tarry stools
  2. chest pain
  3. chills
  4. cough
  5. depression, irritability, or other mood or mental changes
  6. fever
  7. loss of memory
  8. pain or swelling in the arms or legs
  9. painful or difficult urination
  10. shortness of breath
  11. sore throat
  12. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
  13. swollen glands
  14. unusual bleeding or bruising
  15. unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

  1. Abdominal or stomach pain
  2. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
  3. clay-colored stools
  4. coma
  5. confusion
  6. convulsions
  7. dark urine
  8. decreased urine output
  9. diarrhea
  10. dizziness
  11. fast or irregular heartbeat
  12. headache
  13. increased thirst
  14. itching or skin rash
  15. joint pain
  16. large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
  17. loss of appetite
  18. muscle ache or pain
  19. nausea
  20. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
  21. red, irritated eyes
  22. unpleasant breath odor
  23. vomiting of blood
  24. yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  1. Blurred vision
  2. cold or flu-like symptoms
  3. delusions
  4. dementia
  5. hoarseness
  6. lack or loss of strength
  7. lower back or side pain
  8. swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs
  9. trembling or shaking

Less common or rare

  1. Accidental injury
  2. appetite increased
  3. back pain
  4. bloated or full feeling
  5. body aches or pain
  6. burning, dry, or itching eyes
  7. change in vision
  8. change in walking and balance
  9. clumsiness or unsteadiness
  10. congestion
  11. constipation
  12. cough producing mucus
  13. decrease in sexual desire or ability
  14. difficulty with breathing
  15. dryness of the mouth or throat
  16. earache
  17. excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
  18. excessive tearing
  19. eye discharge
  20. feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheadedness
  21. feeling of warmth or heat
  22. flushed, dry skin
  23. flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
  24. frequent urination
  25. fruit-like breath odor
  26. impaired vision
  27. incoordination
  28. increased hunger
  29. increased sensitivity to pain
  30. increased sensitivity to touch
  31. increased thirst
  32. indigestion
  33. noise in the ears
  34. pain, redness, rash, swelling, or bleeding where the skin is rubbed off
  35. passing gas
  36. redness or swelling in the ear
  37. redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
  38. runny nose
  39. sneezing
  40. sweating
  41. tender, swollen glands in the neck
  42. tightness in the chest
  43. tingling in the hands and feet
  44. trouble sleeping
  45. trouble swallowing
  46. trouble thinking
  47. twitching
  48. unexplained weight loss
  49. voice changes
  50. vomiting
  51. weakness or loss of strength
  52. weight gain

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.