Does Gabapentin cause horrible gas?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Does Gabapentin cause horrible gas?
Gabapentin can cause gas in some individuals. This is one of the most commonly reported side effects of this medication, among other side effects of gastrointestinal nature.
Gabapentin can trap gasses in your stomach which can exert pressure and cause pain, bloating, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, etc. This medication is also known for causing acid reflux, which may make your gassy stomach much worse.
However, these side effects are called ‘early side effects’ of Gabapentin and they begin to subside as your body adjusts to the medication. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider if Gabapentin causes severe gas pain and avoid taking it on an empty stomach.
What does research suggest?
Several studies have documented the occurrence of gastrointestinal side effects with Gabapentin use. These symptoms are generally mild to moderate in intensity and may improve over time as the body adjusts to the medication.
However, in some cases, these symptoms can be bothersome and affect the quality of life for individuals taking Gabapentin (1,2). If you are experiencing gas or stomach disturbances while taking Gabapentin, it is advisable to discuss these symptoms with your healthcare provider.
The experts also indicate that Gabapentin has various potential benefits in treating certain conditions, such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety disorders. (3,4)
The prescribing physicians should always consider the overall benefits and potential side effects of Gabapentin when determining the best treatment approach for your specific condition
What to do if Gabapentin causes horrible gas?
There are a few things you can try to release the trapped gases in your stomach. These include:
- OTC medications
- Take Gabapentin with meals
- Don’t overfill your stomach
- Avoid trigger foods
- Try natural gas-relieving ingredients
OTC medications
You can try over-the-counter medications like Alka-Seltzer gas relief and Gas X to help relieve the trapped gases in your stomach. If your gas is paired with acid reflux, you can also take OTC acid reducers to dilute that strong stomach acid down.
If you’re lactose intolerant and your gas pain is triggered after eating something with lactose in it, make sure you take Lactaid or dairy relief to prevent it.
Take Gabapentin with meals
Taking Gabapentin on an empty stomach may cause more intense gas and other gastrointestinal side effects, as the drug rapidly gets dissolved and starts to produce its effects. This can be prevented to some extent by taking your medication in between meals.
Don’t overfill your stomach
Make sure you eat slowly and do not overfill your stomach. Eating heavy foods or too much food, in general, can put a lot of burden on your stomach to digest all of that.
This can make your symptoms much worse, as the medication is already affecting your digestion and causing gases to get trapped inside your stomach. So it’s best to stick to lighter meals to help your stomach relax.
Avoid trigger foods
Make sure you avoid trigger foods. There are a lot of foods that some people may find heavy on their stomachs. This can produce more gas, pain, and bloating. So it’s best to avoid trigger foods specific to you and stick to foods that are easy to digest.
Try natural gas-relieving ingredients
There are plenty of natural gas-relieving ingredients, like fennel, peppermint, lemon, etc. These ingredients help you digest food more easily and generally facilitate the breakdown of food.
If you find yourself gassier after meals, try making fennel tea with some fresh mint leaves. You can then add a few drops of lemon and some honey to taste. This refreshing tea can help release the trapped gases and aid digestion.
Final words
To sum up, Gabapentin may cause gas and bloating during the early course of your treatment, but it eventually fades away. Meanwhile, you can use some natural or medicinal products to help you get rid of the trapped gases.
However, if the side effect persists or starts to affect the quality of your life, it’s important to discuss it with your healthcare provider.
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References
1.-
Yasaei R, Katta S, Saadabadi A. Gabapentin. 2022 Dec 19. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29630280. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493228
2.-
LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012–. Gabapentin. 2020 Jul 30. PMID: 31643576. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548252
3.-
Goa KL, Sorkin EM. Gabapentin. A review of its pharmacological properties and clinical potential in epilepsy. Drugs. 1993 Sep;46(3):409-427. doi: 10.2165/00003495-199346030-00007. PMID: 7693432. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7693432/
4.-
Rose MA, Kam PC. Gabapentin: pharmacology and its use in pain management. Anaesthesia. 2002 May;57(5):451-62. doi: 10.1046/j.0003-2409.2001.02399.x. PMID: 11966555. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11966555/
