Can Gabapentin cause diarrhoea?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Can Gabapentin cause diarrhoea?
Yes, Gabapentin can cause diarrhoea in some individuals. Gastrointestinal side effects are the most commonly experienced side effects of Gabapentin.
A number of individuals have reported nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence, or constipation on this medication. These side effects are quite common in people who are new to Gabapentin. This could happen because of how Gabapentin affects certain psychological functions (1).
However, the intensity of these side effects gets lower as your body adjusts to the medication and they soon begin to fade away. Gabapentin is not generally an easy medication and it is associated with a number of other side effects.
If your diarrhoea is uncontrollable and it’s significantly affecting your health – as diarrhoea can make a person extremely weak – reach out to your healthcare provider.
Factors that can affect the occurrence of diarrhoea with Gabapentin use
Some factors can affect the occurrence of diarrhoea caused by Gabapentin. The likelihood of diarrhoea after using Gabapentin may vary depending on age and sex.
According to one study, older patients were more likely than younger ones to develop diarrhoea when using Gabapentin. According to a different study, female patients were more likely than male patients to experience diarrhoea after using Gabapentin.
Another significant factor that may affect whether diarrhoea occurs when taking Gabapentin is medical history. Individuals who already have gastrointestinal problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease, may be more likely to experience diarrhoea when using Gabapentin.
The frequency of diarrhoea may also be influenced by the dosage and duration of Gabapentin use. Higher Gabapentin dosages and long-term usage of Gabapentin have been linked to a higher incidence of diarrhoea.
The likelihood of diarrhoea with Gabapentin therapy may also depend on individual responses. Just make sure you closely monitor your side effects and report them to your healthcare provider.
How to get rid of Gabapentin-induced diarrhoea?
There are a few things you can try to get rid of Gabapentin-induced diarrhoea. These include (2):
Antidiarrheal medications
Antidiarrheal medications can be used along with Gabapentin to get rid of diarrhoeal symptoms. The most commonly used medication is Imodium (Loperamide).
This medication usually works well with Gabapentin, but I still prefer talking to your healthcare provider first. This is because Imodium can cause psychological side effects in some individuals when taken concomitantly with Gabapentin.
So, you need to ask your doctor first if it’s safe for you to take Imodium along with Gabapentin. If not, there are other antidiarrheal meds that your doctor can recommend.
Probiotics
Probiotics are an excellent choice of add-ons when you’re being treated with Gabapentin or any other medication that upsets your stomach or causes diarrhoea. Probiotics contain good bacteria, which are lost along with diarrhoeal motions.
This can cause a deficiency of good bacteria, which are an essential part of your normal gut functions. Taking Probiotics will help replenish the lost bacteria.
Drink lots of fluids
Fluids are essential for you when suffering from diarrhoea. This is because diarrhoeal stools remove water from your body rapidly, and dehydration is one of the most common complications of diarrhoea. In fact, it also causes electrolyte deficiency.
Electrolytes are extremely important for your normal physiological functioning and their deficiency can cause significant weakness. To overcome this deficiency, use electrolyte replenishers along with lots and lots of water.
Keep your diet light
Eating heavy foods or foods that upset your stomach, in general, is the worst thing you can do to yourself when suffering from diarrhoea. Make sure you keep your diet light to not put a heavy digestion load on your stomach.
Sticking with liquids and semi-liquids can help you, like milkshakes, applesauce, and whole grains.
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References
1.-
PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 3446, Gabapentin; [cited 2023 Feb. 15]. Available from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Gabapentin
2.-
Meisenheimer ES MD, MBA, Epstein C DO, Thiel D MD, MPH. Acute Diarrhea in Adults. Am Fam Physician. 2022 Jul;106(1):72-80. PMID: 35839362. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35839362/
