Has anyone had issues with gaining weight while on Neurontin? I have been on it since April and have gained over 15 pounds. I think it must slow my metabolism (which is already slow - I take thyroid medicine as well) and I feel hungry all the time. I had a friend on Lyrica for TN and as soon as she quit the medication after a successful MVD surgery…she has lost over 21 pounds in 4 months. Due to pain I sometimes have a hard time eating and thus I will eat soft foods. However, I keep gaining whether I eat or not. I would apprciate any comments or advice. I am contemplating surgery in December. I will know more next week after I see my surgeon. Thanks!
Are you constipated? I gained weight on it but that was the reason. It completely shut my system down so could be shutting you down in some form or another. My doctor thought I was nuts but as soon as I went off of it, the problem was resolved. Our brains just react differently to medications. I know I took a medication once and gained a ton of weight very quickly. My Dad took the same medication and lost weight.
No Debbie…not really constipated. Feel so slowed down. The medicine makes me tired and sleepy and therefore I don’t exercise as much. I feel like I eat the same if not less because when it’s hurting sometimes I can’t eat. I have been very atuned to what I eat and try very hard not to gain. I had my thyroid destroyed over 25 years ago and I gained a lot of weight at first but I have lost a lot and have been able to maintain for the last 3+ years until I started the neurontin. I guess gaining weight is better than being in pain. Unfortunately it has a psychological effect on me. Thanks for your thoughts. I hope you’re doing well.
Debbie said:
Are you constipated? I gained weight on it but that was the reason. It completely shut my system down so could be shutting you down in some form or another. My doctor thought I was nuts but as soon as I went off of it, the problem was resolved. Our brains just react differently to medications. I know I took a medication once and gained a ton of weight very quickly. My Dad took the same medication and lost weight.
That could be part of it. I know when the pain is real bad all I can eat is soft foods on the right side of my mouth. I normally eat a lot of salads but there have been nights that I have chosen more fattening food over a salad because I felt I could chew the salad. More that anything though I think it’s because I feel like a zombie most of the time. I am on 2400 mg daily and I can barely do anything and still having pain. The doctor said I could increase to 3200 mg a day but I would have to stop working because I could not drive if I was taking that much. I am already behind at work and the next step would be to just stop which really isn’t an option for me. Thanks.
Nancy Price said:
Hi I take different medication and gained 20lbs. I was talking to my co-worker and said I think that medication is making me gain weight and she very nicely said “Nancy do you think it could be all the comfort food you have been eating”? I was stuffing my feelings. At first I was having a hard time with having this. I took Neurontin and it made me so tired I could not stay awake. It is hard to feel like doing anything when you feel so tired. Good luck
My trouble is, it hurts me to chew it starts the pain off. So I tend to have soft food that can be swallowed almost without chewing. Though I don’t feel I am eating a lot, but thinking about it I am most likely eating more. I am on Gabepentin and I have gained weight since my TN started up again 2 years ago. A lot of the time, I know I am comfort eating as I get so low and nothing seems worth while. To have a chocolate and just suck it is what I love, but the truth is I don’t stop at one. My will power seems to be zero at the moment, my pain is very bad and the dull ache never goes away. Talking at times is so hard. Don 't think it is my metabolism that is slow, I really think it’s the comfort eating of food I can suck . Margaret
Cathy Collum said:
That could be part of it. I know when the pain is real bad all I can eat is soft foods on the right side of my mouth. I normally eat a lot of salads but there have been nights that I have chosen more fattening food over a salad because I felt I could chew the salad. More that anything though I think it’s because I feel like a zombie most of the time. I am on 2400 mg daily and I can barely do anything and still having pain. The doctor said I could increase to 3200 mg a day but I would have to stop working because I could not drive if I was taking that much. I am already behind at work and the next step would be to just stop which really isn’t an option for me. Thanks.
Nancy Price said:Hi I take different medication and gained 20lbs. I was talking to my co-worker and said I think that medication is making me gain weight and she very nicely said “Nancy do you think it could be all the comfort food you have been eating”? I was stuffing my feelings. At first I was having a hard time with having this. I took Neurontin and it made me so tired I could not stay awake. It is hard to feel like doing anything when you feel so tired. Good luck
Margaret: I am sorry you are in pain now. I am too and the dull ache never seems to cease except for when I am sleeping. I do think that the gabepentin slows your metabolism and I think sometimes when I eat soft foods they are more fattening. I eat things like eggs and grits and mashed potatoes. Eating at times triggers my pain and I also have a hard time talking when the pain is real bad. My pain seems to worsen as the day goes on and I am usually in the worse pain right before I go to bed. Having to take the Lortab too often. I do plan to talk to my surgeon on Wed. about surgery. I really don’t understand why more people don’t elect to have the surgery instead of waiting years and years. I hate the pain and I hate the medication. I don’t feel like myself so I want the surgery and I want this to be behind me. Thanks for your input. Best of luck.
Margaret Gladys Mills said:
My trouble is, it hurts me to chew it starts the pain off. So I tend to have soft food that can be swallowed almost without chewing. Though I don’t feel I am eating a lot, but thinking about it I am most likely eating more. I am on Gabepentin and I have gained weight since my TN started up again 2 years ago. A lot of the time, I know I am comfort eating as I get so low and nothing seems worth while. To have a chocolate and just suck it is what I love, but the truth is I don’t stop at one. My will power seems to be zero at the moment, my pain is very bad and the dull ache never goes away. Talking at times is so hard. Don 't think it is my metabolism that is slow, I really think it’s the comfort eating of food I can suck . Margaret
Cathy Collum said:That could be part of it. I know when the pain is real bad all I can eat is soft foods on the right side of my mouth. I normally eat a lot of salads but there have been nights that I have chosen more fattening food over a salad because I felt I could chew the salad. More that anything though I think it’s because I feel like a zombie most of the time. I am on 2400 mg daily and I can barely do anything and still having pain. The doctor said I could increase to 3200 mg a day but I would have to stop working because I could not drive if I was taking that much. I am already behind at work and the next step would be to just stop which really isn’t an option for me. Thanks.
Nancy Price said:Hi I take different medication and gained 20lbs. I was talking to my co-worker and said I think that medication is making me gain weight and she very nicely said “Nancy do you think it could be all the comfort food you have been eating”? I was stuffing my feelings. At first I was having a hard time with having this. I took Neurontin and it made me so tired I could not stay awake. It is hard to feel like doing anything when you feel so tired. Good luck
Hi Cathy, I did have surgery in 2007 (MVD) lost my hearing in left ear, but it seemed worth it as my pain had gone. 2 years later the pain returned, this time I am reluctant to have surgery again. My balance is also affected a feather could knock me over. Think if I had, had surgery way back in 1999 when all this started I might have done better, but I was under a Professor Hawkins here in England and he did not recommend surgery at all. It was only when the pain was so bad and I kept passing out with it he passed me on to a Mr Bryon who was wonderful to me. Think things had gone pretty bad by then so it was a much bigger operation. I would always say have surgery as early on as possible, this pain does not cure itself. My general health is not good now, I don’t really know what my next step is. I am waiting to see a consultant as The North Staffs Hospital here. Hope you can find an answer for you, it was great those 2 pain free years of mine. Even though I had lost so much Margaret.
Cathy Collum said:
Margaret: I am sorry you are in pain now. I am too and the dull ache never seems to cease except for when I am sleeping. I do think that the gabepentin slows your metabolism and I think sometimes when I eat soft foods they are more fattening. I eat things like eggs and grits and mashed potatoes. Eating at times triggers my pain and I also have a hard time talking when the pain is real bad. My pain seems to worsen as the day goes on and I am usually in the worse pain right before I go to bed. Having to take the Lortab too often. I do plan to talk to my surgeon on Wed. about surgery. I really don’t understand why more people don’t elect to have the surgery instead of waiting years and years. I hate the pain and I hate the medication. I don’t feel like myself so I want the surgery and I want this to be behind me. Thanks for your input. Best of luck.
Margaret Gladys Mills said:
My trouble is, it hurts me to chew it starts the pain off. So I tend to have soft food that can be swallowed almost without chewing. Though I don’t feel I am eating a lot, but thinking about it I am most likely eating more. I am on Gabepentin and I have gained weight since my TN started up again 2 years ago. A lot of the time, I know I am comfort eating as I get so low and nothing seems worth while. To have a chocolate and just suck it is what I love, but the truth is I don’t stop at one. My will power seems to be zero at the moment, my pain is very bad and the dull ache never goes away. Talking at times is so hard. Don 't think it is my metabolism that is slow, I really think it’s the comfort eating of food I can suck . Margaret
Cathy Collum said:That could be part of it. I know when the pain is real bad all I can eat is soft foods on the right side of my mouth. I normally eat a lot of salads but there have been nights that I have chosen more fattening food over a salad because I felt I could chew the salad. More that anything though I think it’s because I feel like a zombie most of the time. I am on 2400 mg daily and I can barely do anything and still having pain. The doctor said I could increase to 3200 mg a day but I would have to stop working because I could not drive if I was taking that much. I am already behind at work and the next step would be to just stop which really isn’t an option for me. Thanks.
Nancy Price said:Hi I take different medication and gained 20lbs. I was talking to my co-worker and said I think that medication is making me gain weight and she very nicely said “Nancy do you think it could be all the comfort food you have been eating”? I was stuffing my feelings. At first I was having a hard time with having this. I took Neurontin and it made me so tired I could not stay awake. It is hard to feel like doing anything when you feel so tired. Good luck
Thanks for sharing that Margaret because right now I have been going back and forth on my decision to have surgery. It’s scary but I am so sick of the meds. Now I think I’ll probably go for it. I have only been diagnosed for less than a year but the pain is getting worse even though I have bumped up the gabpentin to 2700 mg and having to take Lortab (which doesn’t seem to do much except put me to sleep). I am sorry you have had so much trouble and pain. I will continue to pray for all who suffer with TN. THanks again for sharing.
Margaret Gladys Mills said:
Hi Cathy, I did have surgery in 2007 (MVD) lost my hearing in left ear, but it seemed worth it as my pain had gone. 2 years later the pain returned, this time I am reluctant to have surgery again. My balance is also affected a feather could knock me over. Think if I had, had surgery way back in 1999 when all this started I might have done better, but I was under a Professor Hawkins here in England and he did not recommend surgery at all. It was only when the pain was so bad and I kept passing out with it he passed me on to a Mr Bryon who was wonderful to me. Think things had gone pretty bad by then so it was a much bigger operation. I would always say have surgery as early on as possible, this pain does not cure itself. My general health is not good now, I don’t really know what my next step is. I am waiting to see a consultant as The North Staffs Hospital here. Hope you can find an answer for you, it was great those 2 pain free years of mine. Even though I had lost so much Margaret.
Cathy Collum said:Margaret: I am sorry you are in pain now. I am too and the dull ache never seems to cease except for when I am sleeping. I do think that the gabepentin slows your metabolism and I think sometimes when I eat soft foods they are more fattening. I eat things like eggs and grits and mashed potatoes. Eating at times triggers my pain and I also have a hard time talking when the pain is real bad. My pain seems to worsen as the day goes on and I am usually in the worse pain right before I go to bed. Having to take the Lortab too often. I do plan to talk to my surgeon on Wed. about surgery. I really don’t understand why more people don’t elect to have the surgery instead of waiting years and years. I hate the pain and I hate the medication. I don’t feel like myself so I want the surgery and I want this to be behind me. Thanks for your input. Best of luck.
Margaret Gladys Mills said:
My trouble is, it hurts me to chew it starts the pain off. So I tend to have soft food that can be swallowed almost without chewing. Though I don’t feel I am eating a lot, but thinking about it I am most likely eating more. I am on Gabepentin and I have gained weight since my TN started up again 2 years ago. A lot of the time, I know I am comfort eating as I get so low and nothing seems worth while. To have a chocolate and just suck it is what I love, but the truth is I don’t stop at one. My will power seems to be zero at the moment, my pain is very bad and the dull ache never goes away. Talking at times is so hard. Don 't think it is my metabolism that is slow, I really think it’s the comfort eating of food I can suck . Margaret
Cathy Collum said:That could be part of it. I know when the pain is real bad all I can eat is soft foods on the right side of my mouth. I normally eat a lot of salads but there have been nights that I have chosen more fattening food over a salad because I felt I could chew the salad. More that anything though I think it’s because I feel like a zombie most of the time. I am on 2400 mg daily and I can barely do anything and still having pain. The doctor said I could increase to 3200 mg a day but I would have to stop working because I could not drive if I was taking that much. I am already behind at work and the next step would be to just stop which really isn’t an option for me. Thanks.
Nancy Price said:Hi I take different medication and gained 20lbs. I was talking to my co-worker and said I think that medication is making me gain weight and she very nicely said “Nancy do you think it could be all the comfort food you have been eating”? I was stuffing my feelings. At first I was having a hard time with having this. I took Neurontin and it made me so tired I could not stay awake. It is hard to feel like doing anything when you feel so tired. Good luck