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← Return to Constipation from Gabapentin (Neurotin)
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Constipation from Gabapentin (Neurotin)
Digestive Health | Last Active: Jun 10 10:24am | Replies (10)Comment receiving replies
Hi @busylady, you pose a great question! I am sorry you live needing to manage constipation, and now for 30 years.
I have this thought as you wait for others having first-hand experience with Gabapentin, coming off of listening to what I thought was an insightful pharmacist’s perspective of backing out and periodically reevaluating. You may just benefit taking a fresh look at everything you are taking, reviewing with your doctor or pharmacist.
- One, it’s easy to miss that the reasons a drug/supplement was initially started may not apply today.
- Also, I had never thought that as my age changes, my body changes, and how drugs work in my body change, our anilments accumulate.
- Then, you bring up another of his thoughts about taking one thing to counteract something else, taking Metamucil to combat the Gabapentin. What need does that create?
At some point, the smart thing to do may be to sit down and re-evaluate from scratch. Maybe there are newer drugs you haven’t considered because the Gabapentin has been working good enough. I am happy to find the article if you want to read/listen. Just let me know.
Do you take other medications? Is it possible, worth working with your doctor to taper down the Gabapentin to see if your constipation improves? Would tweaking your diet help, what other type of foods do you eat regularly?
Replies to "Hi @busylady, you pose a great question! I am sorry you live needing to manage constipation,..."
Thank you for your input. I am open to listening/ reading any article that’s may prove to have some insight for me. If you can find it, i would be much obliged.
If my memory serves me correctly, my constipation started before the Gabapentin. I should have mentioned that previously. At the time of the onset of my constipation, i had one parent that had been extremely ill and passed away, the other parent in cancer treatment, my only sibling in cancer treatment, I was marrying for the 2nd time and helping to raise my husband’s two children in addition to my own two. With so much going on in my life, and being split so many different ways, I attributed my constipation to stress!
The only other prescription medication that I take is Levothyroxine. I also take over the counter Calcium, a multivitamin and B complex.
You can see my other post here where. I elaborated on how I feel the Gabapentin helps with my neuropathy.
I eat a plant based diet most of the time and hardly any processed food. No dairy, very little meat. Some fish, but mostly bean dishes, such as curries, bean burgers, bean soups, etc.
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You didn't mention the reason you take Gabapentin. It was originally approved for seizures and later given off label for neuropathy and pain.