Gabapentin - being linked to increased risk of dementia

Posted by mikead63 @mikead63, Jul 12 12:12pm

According to a large scale observational study published in the journal "Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine", patients who received frequent gabapentin prescriptions were significantly more likely to develop dementia and/or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Researchers analyzed anonymized medical records from tens of thousands of Americans sourced from TriNetX, a federated health research network with electronic health records from 68 healthcare organizations across the country.
They found that patients whom had received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were 29% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia and 85% more likely to be diagnosed with MCI within 10 years of their initial pain diagnosis.
There is more - To view the full report:
https://doi.org/10.1136/rapm-2025-106577

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rdf56 | @rdf56 | Jul 31 4:31am

In reply to @brotherchuckles80 "I have been on it for 20+ years. I am now 81 and fully competent. If..." + (show)

Boy is that good news! My husband who's also on it says he'd rather be nuts than in pain. I, on the other hand, would like to get off anything that's going to increase my chances of dementia. It's a very difficult situation.

grrranny | @grrranny | Jul 31 1:41pm

I wouldn't be able to sleep due to hand pain at night after my stroke. Hopefully I won't always have to take it. (300mg bedtime and 300mg 3 hours later). Only lasts me 3 hours!

ellie1939 | @ellie1939 | Jul 31 2:58pm

In reply to @raebaby "I'm going to be 84. I've been taking gabapentin since I got periperal neuropathy from chemo..." + (show)

I'm glad you can tolerate that much. I take 2 at night or 3 if. 2 doesn;t work. I'm trying
to get off it because I do find I'm not sharp . I'm fortgetfull a lot more than before. I was
told not to take more than 1 daytime because it could make me feel tired and. not to drive.
I'v been taking it for about two years for a radiculopathy diagnosis. I'm age 86.

scain | @scain | Aug 1 4:14pm

This is not good news for us. I tried to read the attached link about the study and found that like most scientific study I can't make heads or tails of us. I actually didn't understand their study if adults taking gabapentin for low back pain. Does it really matter what kind of pain is being treated? At any rate I use to take high doses of gabapentin (300 mg per pill). I would sometimes I have to take 900mg. X 3 times daily until I saw my present Dr. At my pain clinic who prescribed Lyrica. (Pregabalin,) In researching just now it is much stronger than gabapentin. I didn't understand if it is considered a form of gabapentin. At any rate it is scary news but I am in the camp of that woman's husband who would rather not be in pain. I have a low threshold for pain but a pretty high tolerance for pain pills. I' ve taken opioids for a brief period of time and had no problem functioning while taking them. Yes like most people u would probably be a high functioning addict. Thankfully all of the sensational news came out about addiction so that was that. But if I miss a day if Lyrica I can get low grade flu like symptoms. Still I am not willing to trade them in for the terrible bladder pain that I got from having IC. As they say ..choose your poison.

sungaltoo | @sungaltoo | Aug 1 4:25pm

I’ve been on gabapentin 300mg 2-3x day for 13 yrs. I have tried going without it but I take it for headaches, seizures and neuropathy. So I omit doses when I can but the consequences of going off it aren’t worth it. I figure I can go outside and get hit by a bus so no point in worrying about dementia years away

kerryjane | @kerryjane | Aug 16 9:21am

Hello,
I am a 64 year old female with fibromyalgia diagnosed at 27 by not only my g.p. , but University of Chicago and confirmed by Mayo Rochester. I was put on Gabapentin for long periods of time at high doses. I have had TIA symptoms at times and have had 2 strokes leaving me blind in right eye and a 4 mm aneurysm. At the time of my second stroke I learned that I was developing Lesions on my brain. After much testing done and a long visit to Mayo, I still had no answers as to a reason for my developing symptoms. Recently, I visited U.W. Madison Neurology Department. I completed a DNA test with no Genetic Markers indicating not Cadasil . I am experiencing the balance issues along with short term memory loss and still headaches (migraine) every day. Could this be my answer? This span of time has spanned for over 2 decades. In closing, the Neurologist in Madison told me that I have more Lesions than what’s expected to be seen in a 90 year old.

kerryjane | @kerryjane | Aug 16 11:06am

Hello again KerryJane here,
A comment that I did forget. Madison has referred me to their center for undiagnosed disease, clinic, but there is no guarantee that I will be accepted in no timeline on when I will hear from them, if I hear from them.

gen55 | @gen55 | Aug 17 12:40pm

In reply to @sungaltoo "I’ve been on gabapentin 300mg 2-3x day for 13 yrs. I have tried going without it..." + (show)

Has the Gabapentin helped the neuropathy? My doctor gave me a low dose to try, but I haven't yet because I don't like some of the side effects I have read about.

sungaltoo | @sungaltoo | Aug 17 4:29pm

In reply to @gen55 "Has the Gabapentin helped the neuropathy? My doctor gave me a low dose to try, but..." + (show)

I don’t really think it helps me with neuropathy. It seems yo help me more with seizures headaches and some minimal nerve pain. That’s why I was looking for something else but natural. I found the Healthy Feet and Nerves supplement and that’s what has been a real help

quackser | @quackser | Sep 6 11:03am

I've been taking gabapentin (300mg x 3 or 4 daily) for 3 years.
At 73, I find my retrieval of vocabulary is less reliable than when younger, but can't really be sure it has to do with gabapentin - but given the concerns, I've been trying to pull back to 600mg (300x2) per day - though I really have no reason to think I will reduce the chances of mental side effects by reducing the dosage. More data is needed.