Does Gabapentin thin your blood?
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
Does Gabapentin thin your blood?
No, Gabapentin does not cause blood thinning. Blood-related side effects are not reported in clinical trials and are not listed as side effects of Gabapentin. Even in rare cases, Gabapentin is not known for thinning your blood or affecting your platelets in any way.
Gabapentin does cause hypotension or low blood pressure in some people, but that’s not common either. The only way Gabapentin affects your blood is by causing an allergic reaction, which is an extremely rare condition and such people can’t continue using Gabapentin (1,2).
In normal practice, the blood thinning effect is not reported and no patient has ever mentioned it. Blood thinning is common with some antidepressants, and medications like anticoagulants and Aspirin are used for that purpose – which are not related to Gabapentin or how this medication works.
However, every individual is different and responds differently to medications. Gabapentin is not an easy medication and not everyone can bear it.
If you think Gabapentin is affecting your blood in some way, talk to your healthcare provider. Your doctor may ask to run some tests to check the thickness of your blood and the overall quantity of your blood cells to monitor your haematological functions.
If something is not up to the mark, your doctor will determine the next step to restore your health. Make sure you don’t stop using Gabapentin without consulting your doctor first.
What side effects are common with Gabapentin?
Gabapentin, although it does not cause blood thinning, is associated with a number of side effects and is considered one of the most dangerous medications if not taken properly.
Some of the common and rare side effects of Gabapentin include (3,4):
- Xerostomia or dry mouth
- Weight gain
- Dizziness
- Somnolence
- Flatulence
- Diarrhoea
- Headache
- Vision problems
- Cloudy mind
- Fatigue
- Tremors
- Confusion
- Joint pain
- Difficulty in remembering things
- Abdominal pain
- Low heart rate
- Unsteadiness
- Muscle twitching
- Back pain
- Increased appetite
Some serious and rare side effects include:
- Suicidal behaviour
- Impaired motor coordination
- Thrombocytopenia or decreased levels of platelets
- Water retention
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Convulsions
- Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body.
- Allergic reaction associated with symptoms like redness of the skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, blue-purple patches, tightness of chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc.
It’s important to remember that not everyone will experience these side effects, and some side effects may be more or less severe than others. If you are concerned about any side effects while taking gabapentin, it’s best to discuss them with your healthcare professional.
Final words
To sum up, Gabapentin does not make your blood thinner. If you are experiencing such a side effect, there could be other factors contributing to it or another underlying cause that might not be linked to the medication or your mental health condition.
Your doctor will properly evaluate your symptoms, diagnose the underlying cause of blood thinning, and will determine the best course of action. Make sure you don’t stop taking Gabapentin without consulting your doctor first.
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References
1.-
Ragucci MV, Cohen JM. Gabapentin-induced hypersensitivity syndrome. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2001 Mar-Apr;24(2):103-5. doi: 10.1097/00002826-200103000-00007. PMID: 11307046. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11307046/
2.-
Fuzier R, Serres I, Guitton E, Lapeyre-Mestre M, Montastruc JL; French Network of Pharmacovigilance Centres. Adverse drug reactions to gabapentin and pregabalin: a review of the French pharmacovigilance database. Drug Saf. 2013 Jan;36(1):55-62. doi: 10.1007/s40264-012-0006-6. PMID: 23315296. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23315296/
3.-
Yasaei R, Katta S, Saadabadi A. Gabapentin. 2022 Dec 19. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29630280. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493228
4.-
Quintero GC. Review about gabapentin misuse, interactions, contraindications and side effects. J Exp Pharmacol. 2017 Feb 9;9:13-21. doi: 10.2147/JEP.S124391. PMID: 28223849; PMCID: PMC5308580. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28223849/
