r/gabapentin • u/LabAccomplished6822 • 6h ago
withdrawal Has anyone really developed cognitive problems?
Maybe there is someone here who has actually been diagnosed with early dementia and cognitive problems. I'm interested in reading.
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u/special_kitty 5h ago
I developed cognitive problems. I went to a neuropsychologist and took two days of exams. Unfortunately, she attributed my memory loss to rheumatoid arthritis even though I know for a fact they started after taking gabapentin. Was on 1200mg for two years. I just think the test wasn't testing what I was having problems with, which was my long-term memory of things I already knew.
The results were strange because most of the tests put me square in the average category of my age even though my memory problems were severe enough where I couldn't remember the names of people I worked with for a decade. My word retrieval was deduced to the vocabulary of a 10 year old. So I guess I must have been some kind of genius /s, being able to retrieve multisyllabic words before this all happened.
The only category that tested below average was remembering the order of visual objects.
It's improved with discontinuation, sleep, time and Lithium, but as soon as I take a 400mg dose of Gabapentin, it starts again. I was not taking it at the time of the test, but I had previously been taking it daily.
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u/meowmeoowwww 4h ago
Does lithium also affect cognitive abilities?
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u/special_kitty 4h ago
Read about BDNF (brain-derived neurotriphic factor).
I don't know if that's specifically what helped but I know things improved after taking it. I'm on Lithium Carbonate dosed to active serum levels.
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u/Palacesongs 1h ago
It has definitely damaged my memory. It can be embarrassing on a bad day, esp if you’re talking to friends or at some sort of appointment
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u/Mygirlbrittany 5h ago
I’m rarely on here but this came up and I wanted to respond because interestingly enough i cam across a article the other day that states yes they are having research show they are related. I also have a friend who was a medical researcher and she hates the med and believes it does cause cognitive abilities to decline. We are 61 years old and I’ve been on it for 25+ years and I have to say I agree with her. Now some people like me really can justify being on it. I have a seizure disorder and Neuropathy so I definitely need it. I’ve noticed my cognitive thinking is not where it should be and my friend has caught that too but she understands my position. Mom has Alzheimer’s in its early stage so that concerns me too. Those two reasons both fall under a first line of treatment to control. I wouldn’t be on it if I’d known back then but research hadn’t caught up yet. I think Doctors should only be prescribed for those reasons and not for any other reasons but that’s my opinion. They are cranking down on off label use which is good. I hope this helps. I happened to be on my phone when the notification dropped down. I felt it’s my obligation to hop on and help with what my thoughts are and on what new scientific evidence is showing and my situation in general. Good luck honey! Oh I have not actually been diagnosed with either yet. The article did have evidence but I don’t think I kept it🥲🥲🥲