I have been on Gabapentin for a little over 2 years now. I have NO sex drive and it's causing problems with my marriage. I have PCOS, which contributes to hair loss and weight gain, but it has definitely increased. I was prescribed Gabapentin for sciatica, and it has worked wonders! I need to find an alternative to this medication! Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Has anyone experienced a loss of libido, weight gain, aggression, and hair loss, with Gabapentin?
Question posted by amanda10 on 20 Oct 2010
Last updated on 2 June 2021
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
4 Answers
Jadeskys
27 Feb 2020
I was on Gabapentin for Fibromyalgia and it did work wonders. Unfortunately, their was a loss of libido and serious weight gain that I couldn’t overcome even with diet modifications. I had to stop the medication. The side effects were not worth it.
deedeetoo
2 June 2021
That's quite unfortunate that you had to discontinue Gabapentin for your condition which I am sure is quite a painful one.
This is working wonders for me as well and I am already swelling with water weight just 4 days in. I would hate to have to stop something that finally works. But before I stop taking it, I'm going to research and try everything I can before ultimately throwing in the towel.
Cherie0404
15 Feb 2020
I have been on it for a month and am experiencing a low libido and low climax. Will my libido return if I stop?
gemininosferatu
2 Oct 2012
I don't know if this will help, especially since your question was almost 2 years ago, but here's my 2¢...
I've been on gabapentin for 3 1/2 years - my current dose is 2100mg (300mg x7 capsules) per day, split into three doses (2 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, and 3 at night). I personally haven't experienced any appreciable weight gain or increased rate of hair loss (I was already going bald), and I've always had aggression issues/mood swings, so I can't really speak to that (though I haven't noticed much, if any, increase in aggression), but I have had an oddly fluctuating libido since I've been on this stuff. More so at the beginning than now when my body's used to it, but the "weirdness" is still present.
One day it'll be nonexistent, another day it'll be through the roof, some days it'll change hour to hour - THAT was really hard to get used to at the start. I'm also one of the "lucky" ~2% that (occasionally or ever) can't orgasm no matter what I try. Luckily, it's only occasionally in my case (~1 in 4 or 5 times, though some weeks it seems more like 2 out of 3), but it's still frustrating for both myself and my fiancee, so I can empathize with your statement that it's causing relationship problems. (I keep telling her it's not her fault but she still feels like she's doing something wrong: "I'm not doing my job," as in, "[she's] not doing [her] job"... We're both still getting used to it.) It also plays havoc with my ADD - also, luckily, not constantly, but even occasionally makes it *really* hard to get homework done.
The percentage of folks with sexual side effects IS unfortunately high, or at least it seems so.
I take it for a pinched nerve in my neck (caused by a ruptured disc) that causes debilitating muscle spasms and pain in my shoulder and back, and almost complete numbness in the 'thumb to middle finger' half of my left hand. Before gabapentin, I was on Lyrica for almost 2 years. Gabapentin has worked quite a bit better than Lyrica - I've got almost all the feeling in my hand back except for a little residual tingle in the thumb, and stiffness in the shoulder/neck area - and even though I still get a little loopy if I take it on an empty stomach, I don't get nearly as "stoned" as I seemed to on Lyrica. (... except if I have *any* alcohol - even just one wine cooler within 2 hours of taking a dose, and I'm asleep in a matter of minutes - but it's like I'm stumbling drunk and high at the same time before I doze off. Not fun. Good thing I was never a big drinker.)
You might want to talk to your doctor about your problem - I asked my spine specialist about it, and he said he *could* switch me to something else, but 1. it would be a newer medicine that would probably cost more since it didn't have a generic version yet (I didn't have insurance at the time); and 2. its side effects weren't as well documented, and tended to be worse. I decided to stick with what I'm on, but in your case it might be worth a shot. I can't remember the name of the stuff he offered to switch me to, sorry.
Good luck.
lillynnie
29 March 2013
I have been on gabapentin for approximately 3 years, I don't understand the zombie feeling the next day or when your taking it. I have never had that feeling when I take my meds. I am also on tramadol with them I can move better when they kick in. I take 4 tramadol and 2 gabapentin just to get out of bed in the morning for work. I have noticed weight gain and the libido issues. I found this forum while trying to find something else I can take instead of gabapentin due to the weight gain and libido issues. I am glad to hear I am not the only one with this problem. I know these posts are old but if anyone reads this and has any answers PLEASE reply.
bwreid
20 Oct 2010
I have been on gab for over a year. Have experienced weight gain and hair loss and it did not help as well as tramadol for my pain. I have now gone back on a lower dose of tramadol and dropped the gabapentin. Did not want to be back on tramadol but my finances won't let me experiment with lots of pain meds. Anyone have another suggestion??
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weight loss (obesity/overweight), polycystic ovary syndrome, gabapentin, weight, sex
Further information
- Gabapentin uses and safety info
- Gabapentin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Gabapentin (detailed)
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