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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Diabetic With High Blood Pressure And Cholesterol. Why I Am Feeling Drowsy While Taking Gabapentin For Anxiety Attacks?

Hello, I am a type II diabetic, 59 year old woman with high blood pressure & high cholesterol-both treated with medications. I suffer from anxiety attacks once in awhile. I was recently put on gabapentin 300mg/3 times a day. I am experiencing extreme drowsiness approximately 1 hour after a meal, usually breakfast, to the point I have to go to sleep and am wondering what causes it. I currently take two Metformin 500mg/twice a day and have kept my blood sugar levels within range since I was diagnosed in 2002. The problem of getting that sleepy bothers me as I don't know when it will happen and it will not always occur if I eat the exact same meal. I would appreciate an answer to why this occurs.
Thu, 2 Jan 2014
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Internal Medicine Specialist 's  Response
Dear Mam.
Gabapentin causes sedation and drowsiness as a side effect.
So you are experiencing that.
I suppose you have been prescribed it because of peripheral neuropathy , that is pain , tingling and numbness in legs.

I personally prefer to give pregabalin and methylcobalamine combination for this problem beacuse can be given conveniently once during night. It also causes some sedation but that shouldn't be a problem at night.
Discuss with your doctor regarding this opinion.
Stay Healthy
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Diabetic With High Blood Pressure And Cholesterol. Why I Am Feeling Drowsy While Taking Gabapentin For Anxiety Attacks?

Dear Mam. Gabapentin causes sedation and drowsiness as a side effect. So you are experiencing that. I suppose you have been prescribed it because of peripheral neuropathy , that is pain , tingling and numbness in legs. I personally prefer to give pregabalin and methylcobalamine combination for this problem beacuse can be given conveniently once during night. It also causes some sedation but that shouldn t be a problem at night. Discuss with your doctor regarding this opinion. Stay Healthy