Gabapentin and dryness

[Deb 27]

Has gabapentin caused eye dryness for anyone here? I'm always suspecting a medication side effect for things, so I never really know. It's been a long time since my eyes bothered me like this and the gabapentin is all that has changed. Thanks!

[meirish]

I just saw your post now. I would not be surprised if the drug is causing you more dryness. It can cause dryness in some people and a Sjogrens patient would probably be higher risk for the high dryness. I would ask your doctor is there is another medication you could use in place of the Gabapentin. You are right about watching for new side effects from ned medications we have to use. It is hard sometimes to figure out if something is from the new med or not. Sometimes a side effect will dwindle as time goes on. Dry eyes is hard to live with though. Good luck. meirish

[Carolina]

Hi, I've been taking gabapentin for at least 6 years at 3600 mg/day.  I have small fiber neuropathy which feels like my skin is on fire (really).  3600/mg daily pretty much stops that misery.  Even my eyelids burn, and it feels like needles are sticking into my finger tips.  I would take Gabapentin to stop this misery no matter what.

So, I take pilocarpine for my dry mouth with sometimes Xylimelts over night.  I use ultra Systane eyedrops mostly at night.

I read the side effects of gabapentin on Drugs.com and dryness isn't among the top contenders...considered mostly rare.  But other sites put dry mouth higher up.

I have many CNS problems due to my Immune Dysfunction (the list is endless) including damage to my moisture system, like Sjogren's but not autoimmune.

The dryness started in 2002, so I'm in this business for 20 years now, alas

https://www.drugs.com/sfx/gabapentin-side-effects.html

We're all in the same boat...but we all have different reactions to medications, so I'm throwing in my two cents, but 'your mileage may vary'.

Elaine

[Jeigh44]

I had such a hard time taking gabapentin.  It made me feel lethargic and like my head was a balloon.  I wish I responded to it better because I know it does wonders for pain.

[meirish]

Sometimes people have issues with some meds. I can't take gabapentin either as I feel stoned...or what I assume feeling stoned is like. Can't live life like that. Hopefully you can find another medication that will help you. There are so many meds out there. If you have a neurologist that doc may have knowledge of another med. I assume you are taking this for neuropathy of some type.  Good luck. meirish

[Linda196]

For those who have tried Gabapentin with unsatisfactory results, have you tried Lyrica? I know a family member who couldn't take Gaba due to increasing Liver panel levels, but did well with a very cautious trial of Lyrica and was able to take it long term.

[meirish]

Linda, that is so good to know. I had forgotten about Lyrica. I haven't heard it mentioned for a long time. Thank  you. meirish

[Deb 27]

Thank you for the replies. I finally realized what was causing the dryness and it wasn't the gabapentin.