Blue fingernails from Gabapentin

Posted by petluv17 @petluv17, Sep 25, 2022

I am a 77-year-old male who has been taking Gabapentin for many years I take 2 400 mg capsules in the evening and have developed blue fingernails the doctors do not know what is causing it. However, in reading about the side effects It is listed as one of the more serious side effects. Would like to know if anyone else is experiencing this.

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John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 25, 2022

Hello @petluv17, Welcome to Connect. I did a search of Connect and wasn't able to find another post by a member discussing blue fingernails as a side effect of gabapentin. I'm wondering if the blue fingernails might be due to something else since you have taken gabapentin for many years before the symptoms occurred. It can also be caused by a low level or lack of oxygen circulating in your blood. Here's some information on possible causes:

-- Why Are My Fingernails Blue?:
https://www.healthline.com/health/blue-fingernails
You mentioned the doctors do not know what is causing it. Are you able to seek a second opinion or possibly seek help at a teaching hospital or major health facility?

petluv17 | @petluv17 | Sep 25, 2022

In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @petluv17, Welcome to Connect. I did a search of Connect and wasn't able to find..." + (show)

I really appreciate you responding to my post. I have done a lot of research and I now know it is most likely not coming from Gabapentin. He has a low platelet count and it keeps dropping, the doctor's kept dismissing him. However, I finally told the doctor He needed to see a hematologist since something is going on with his blood. He also has neuropathy in both feet and I know this can cause his feet to be blue but this is extreme. It looks like someone beat him up!

nodunk | @nodunk | Sep 26, 2022

No but did have purple feet 10 years ago during first chemo treatment. I have had many questions like yours but I have to come realize there are probably not going to be answers. The one constant is that these drugs have side effects unique only to oneself and we must accept it but not let it overwhelm us that we may be totally different in some ways from others.