Gabapentin for Hot Flashes
How It Works
Gabapentin is an antiseizure
(anticonvulsive) medicine that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for controlling
epilepsy. How it works to improve hot flashes is not
fully understood.
Why It Is Used
Gabapentin may be used to treat
hot flashes.
It addition to seizure
control, gabapentin is also commonly used to treat
chronic pain,
migraine headache,
panic disorder, and
social phobia.
How Well It Works
Gabapentin may lower the number of
hot flashes each day and the intensity of hot flashes.1
Side Effects
Side effects from gabapentin include:
- Fatigue or drowsiness.
- Dizziness
and lightheadedness, especially during the first couple of weeks of
treatment.
- Swelling of the hands and
feet.
- Rash.
- Nausea.
Side effects are less likely when the dose is gradually
increased and when medicine is taken with meals or at bedtime.
The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on antiseizure medicines and the
risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts. The FDA does not recommend that people
stop using these medicines. Instead, people who take antiseizure medicine
should be watched closely for
warning signs of suicide. People who take antiseizure
medicine and who are worried about this side effect should talk to a
doctor.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug
Reference is not available in all systems.)
References
Citations
- Fritz MA, Speroff L (2011). Postmenopausal hormone therapy. In Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 8th ed., pp. 749–857. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH - Geriatric Medicine |
|---|
| Last Revised | April 26, 2012 |
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Last Revised:
April 26, 2012
Fritz MA, Speroff L (2011). Postmenopausal hormone therapy. In Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 8th ed., pp. 749–857. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
