Memory Loss From Gabapentin?

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I have a really bad memory these past 5yrs. I've been taking gabapentin the past 7yrs, I also take oxycodone, oxymorphone, mobic and stopped taking valium and a muscle relaxer about a year ago. I don't consume cannabis anymore. It's been about 15 yrs since I have. But when I did smoke back in the day I smoked a lot for a good 10yrs.

I've noticed lately that I cant remember anything. When someone introduces themselves I just totally forget 2 mins later. I have tried the trick where you say the person's name over 5x's or use it in a sentence to help remember. But to no avail. Even at work, I'm told 3 things to do, I only remember 2 of them, or when it's time to do a task at work I just totally forget. It's affecting my job and making me look very stupid. I usually am a sharp person I'm not the smartest but know a little about a lot of things. So I'm really taking this pretty hard and it's not good when your assistant manager says, "Yeah your memory is s***". Any and all suggestions are welcome by the way. I'm 40 yrs young and work in retail.

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1

Hello Rawdog,

According to this case study done by the NIH, [1] (the comparative effects of chronic administrations of gabapentin, pregabalin and baclofen), there is currently no concrete evidence to show a relationship between gabapentin and cognitive issues. They do also go on to state that this is not concrete evidence as there are very few studies done and this is only one particular case study with a limited scope. In addition to this case study the NIH does not list cognitive issues as a common side effect associated with this nor does the manufacturer label it as a potential side effect.

The case study also goes on to state that pregabalin, which they later claim works nearly identical to gabapentin, does show strong signs of cognitive diminishment. So I would definitely not rule out the possibility that gabapentin could be causing your issues.

If you would like to have a better understanding of the drugs and their potential effects on memory I strongly recommend that you read this case study. There is a lot of useful information to draw from it. I hope this helps, have a wonderful day and let me know if you need any additional information.

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2

I have taken gabapentin for years at a time but with some breaks in between. I am a 39 year-old female and I have noticed that my memory has gotten worse but I have done a lot of drugs in my past. I am clean now for 2 1/2 years, but I do consume cannabis because of my pain. So I really can’t pinpoint what is making my memory bad.

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3

Lyrica made me forget everything, it was horrible.

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4

Dear Rawdog, I am sorry for the troubles you are having. Studies show that marijuana interferes with brain development if smoked before 25 years old, especially for men. That being said, what is done is done. Don't feel bad, none of us are perfect. I am sure you are stressed out about this which of course gives you a worried mind, and adds to your inability to remember things. I carry one of those little mini notepads and a pencil, and tell people I have CRS, and to please forgive me if I forget, so I try to laugh it off and get them to laugh with me, not at me. Please do not drink alcohol as it can only exasperate your problem. I wish you well.

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5

Gabapentin most certainly DOES cause memory problems. The FDA just released a study on Gabapentin close cousin Nuerontin, which showed Nuerontin causes death in certain brain synapses.

I took 2800 mg. Of Gabapentin for 6 years, and i lost memories of YEARS of my life! I did not realize the extent of the fog i was living under until I was forced off of it cold turkey. I must also warn you that, despite what doctors may tell you, the withdrawal from Gabapentin was much WORSE and lasted way longer than the withdrawal from Dilaudid and Fentanyl patches. I have been off of Gabapentin for a year and STILL suffer symptoms from stopping it. I also have NOT recovered the lost memories of years of my life.

You should definitely be under the care of a doctor, and taper the Gabapentin VERY SLOWLY. Good luck, and best wishes in finding a doctor to help you taper slowly if you decide to discontinue it. Check the rest of this board regarding Gabapentin and you will find MANY people with similar stories as mine, and MANY complaints of memory loss with this med.

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Everyone has different short and long term reactions to medicine. Or none at all. I was Rx'd Clonazepam, Baclofen, & Gabapentin for an odd seizure disorder over 20 yrs ago. After a couple years I stopped Baclofen on my own. So the other 2 since. I've never smoked cannabis. Never taken anything else, other than aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen. My memory at 60 is still freakishly good, thankfully. (Not that I don't now have a phone that has my numbers, and use for errands, grocery, appointment lists, etc.). You are taking other medications...any one of which could be a reason for your memory problems. And all of them together?? Well, I always said NO one can figure side effects for a combination of meds with any one given person. Much less everyone. You know your body and how you are doing and feeling. Can you quit any of that stuff slowly and see after awhile how you are doing? Don't discuss with only one MD, but at least 2 or 3.

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7

Rawdog, I took gabepentin in 2012 to about 2014 for nerve damage die to Spinal Stenosis. I was diagnosed Bipolar, PTSD and extreme Anxiety at the end of 2014 and could not continue to take the gabapentin because I noticed when I I took the psych meds along with the Xanax when needed and my daily regimen of gabapentin, I started getting very jittery, and shakey. So I tried not taking the gabapentin, or any steroids, took only the hydrocodone for my back pain and the jitters stopped. Then just to make sure I started the gabapentin again and within a week the jitters and shakes returned. So my doctor took me off of them. I will say while on gabapentin I did find myself forgetting more things than normal! I had to start making notes for everything. Friends we're trying to convince me it was the Ambien I take for r sleep, no that is not true, I still take Ambien for sleep, over 5 years now, I am 59 years old, have worked hard all my life, raised my son as a single parent, worked for the state, am sharp as a tack as yourself. Yet when I walk into a room and don't remember why I am on there? I started to get very frustrated, even years after taking gabapentin I still struggle with memory issues. Short term memory loss. I am now on Disability fory mental disorders, die to not being able to function fully at my high functioning job. Not being able to remember how to do my job at that very moment is very critical and it happened where I just couldn't do it anymore. Now, I have to make many notes and write down appointments at the time I am making them on a calendar all the time or as soon as hanging up the phone, I will have forgotten every word said! Very frustrating! Hang in there, my suggestion to help is keep a pen and a note pad with you at all times and write everything down as it is said! You not alone and yes I have come down to the fact that after being guinea pigged on so many different medications for my mental issues, none of them have caused my memory loss. It has been directly linked to the gabapentin.

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8

Dude! Isn't it pretty obvious what's causing your memory loss/cognitive issues? If you've been taking fairly high doses of Oxymorphone, & Oxycodone for a long time, both those drugs will make you feel that way. I know, as I've been on Oxycodone for 11 years, & Oxymorphone for 5 years.

Oxymorphone especially-- This one will make you feel dumb as a bag of hammers after taking it for a while. I'm not sure why. I have to take them as the pain is greater than the memory loss. I'm on disability & can't work anymore anyway.

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9

I’ve been on gabapentin years, can’t say I notice your memory loss side effects. Maybe it’s some of the other terrible drugs you take. Wow sorry but some of the other stuff you take is more likely to be causing many problems.

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10

Dude seriously? The cannabis you smoked is the problem building up over the years! Why do you take so many drugs?

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11

Your story is identical to mine!!! I sometimes can't remember the simplest of things... I take alot of the same meds as you but I have never smoked from the Mary J. Leaf....lol. But I can seriously feel where you are coming from. I now have to write things down if I plan on remembering them. When they create drugs they only do short clinical trials so they have no way to measure the long term effects. For instance, I was on Nexium and Prilosec for many years and now have kidney disease!! No one in my family has ever had any kidney problems, I am the first. I have often wished I would have never had to see a doctor, because I have got more issues now then when I started!! Everything for me started with simple heartburn issues!! Sorry for rambling on!! I hope to find the reason for my memory issues also. If you have any luck please send me a reply. I am very interested in this issue...

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Re: Kevin (# 1) Expand Referenced Message

Check with your physician - ask him to do a memory test to assess if it is dementia.

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Re: nimshie29 (# 12) Expand Referenced Message

Umh... I'm 41 Years old. I'm pretty sure it's not dementia ??

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Re: Bella (# 10) Expand Referenced Message

It’s not the cannabis, it’s the gabapentinoids. They are well known among gabapentinoid patients that they experience cognitive impairment and memory impairment.

For many people, these problems improve over time, once off those drugs. It may take from a few months to a couple of years.

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Re: Kitty (# 14) Expand Referenced Message

It is well known that researchers note that the use of therapeutic cannabinoids has been hampered by the side effects they present, such as memory loss. Smoking pot over the years causes memory loss. Gavapentin causes fatigue, weight loss, dizziness but memory loss was last on this list, but you would have to take it for years. Chances are most certain the Maryjane you’ve been getting stoned on is the culprit. Prices we must pay in order to feel good. Gabapentin was not for me as I couldn’t get out of bed.

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16

Whoops!! Sounds like the 'officially declared' warnings regarding the longer term possible sfx may indeed carry some value/substance after all. Payback time for previous spells of indulgence (?), hope not, best of bud.

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17

I've been prescribed Gabapentin for years now and i instantly forget EVERYTHING!!! I don't smoke pot either. I know its the Gabapentin cause my memory used to be perfect!!!!!

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Re: Kitty (# 14) Expand Referenced Message

It MIGHT be gaba. And taken without that list of really scary stuff, slight possibility. But with the 3 scary things, then doing the math on how much, how long, and at what young age the marijuana was started. I'd say something needs to be eliminated from the Rx lineup. Or decreased in mgs or doses. The gaba is the least problematic for most people, compared to the others. And could open the possibility to ease off the really potent other things. It was most likely just the tipping point. Again, I have taken it for 20 years. Again, everyone is different.

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19

I have memory lost also I have not taken Gabapentin I'm young 57 I didn't want to tell anyone I'm not on drugs I do take pain pills for my back but I do want to know what to do about my memory can someone help tell me what to do.thanks this is the boss lady

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Re: Bella (# 15) Expand Referenced Message

I'm on gabapentin and for me it gives me energy and helps with my pain and I have gained weight from it as it makes me crave sugar.just goes to show how things affect everyone different.

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32

It’s the Gabapentin.
It’s awful. I didn’t realize how confused and dumb it was making me until I got off it.
Benzos are worse for my memory. But Gabapentin is bad.

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Re: lucy (# 20) Expand Referenced Message

I gained thirty pounds in a couple of months, it took awhile to get rid of that. still crave sugar and never did before all of the surgeries and drugs.

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Re: JeanBean (# 28) Expand Referenced Message

Jean, You are right on the money this medication and Lyrica are not or me I'm lucky to be here. There are others but these two are on the top of my list.
Later pain meds.
I've had 8 back, neck and hip surgeries, and have been in pain management over 12 years.
Speedy

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29

Get rid of that crap, I almost committed suicide and my mind was in for it. I could barley talk. Others I have met said the same things. My Dr. said it's not possible. I told him to try it! By the way I have a new DR. now.

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28

There are serious cognitive issues and damage with this drug. Do not trivialize the experience of others just b/c you may not have experienced problems.

Walking into a room and forgetting why you went in the room? That may be commonplace and not indicative of a serious problem, but make no mistake, thete are SERIOUS cognitive issues with this drug. You are not helpful, and your superior, mocking attitude might boost your ego, but you help no one. If you have nothing to contribute, why are you here?

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27

I took a similar gabapentinoid, Lyrica. It wreaked havoc with my memoroy and cognitive function, very simliar to developing a learning disability. Problems with reading comprehension, attention span, recall of words and names of things that I might have known just minutes or hours or days before, suddenly unable to recall. I experienced a few blackout episodes, such as unable to recall that I had dinner with my husband, fell asleep, napped, and couldn’t remember I set the table, cooked the meal and enjoyed his company to eat dinner. Many times forgetting where I was going when driving (why did I turn left? What was my intention?) Did I take my meds? I got the glass of water, I put the pill on the counter- did I already take one, and this one is a second one? Very spacy and forgetful. Left my purse in a store, left my jacket in restaurant, lose my keys, important papers, constant upset and stress b/c of forgetfulness. Going to appointments on the wrong day, or wrong time (I checked, didn’t I? I KNEW last night before bed, but still forgot ) Didn’t I already order those from Amazon? I thought I did. It’s very upsetting. I’ve been off over a year and my memory is much improved, but never fully recovered. Incidentally, no problem on Alzheimer’s test. Just shows the test is not sensitive. You’d have to be pretty bad off for anything to show on that test,

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Re: Kitty (# 14) Expand Referenced Message

Everybody's different. BUT...forget why you walked in a room?? I can't stop laughing...20 year olds with no drug past ever do that. I've heard it ALL of my life.
I've done it myself. Lonnnnng before gaba (-:
Try easing up on yourself. And stop blaming.

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25

I had the same issues with Gabapentin especially short term memory and just a general feeling "stupid". When I told my doctor about it my dose was cut in half and it made a huge difference. Good luck!

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Re: Kitty (# 23) Expand Referenced Message

No I mean the AMERICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL which is the place to look. And why be so snarky? Everyone has their opinion and some know more than others. It is a FATIGUE DRUG end of story.

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Re: Bella (# 15) Expand Referenced Message

On WHAT list? You mean the patient insert written by the manufacturer? Forget what the manufacturer says!

Memory problems, forgetfulness, dementia-like cognitive problems are high on the list of side effects in many research articles, and are commonly reported by patients seeking information in online forums and support groups.

Also weight gain is just as common as weight loss. Many gain from 30-60 lbs rapidly. Those who lose weight do so b/c of lack of appetite due to nausea, diarrhea etc.

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