Does Gabapentin Make You Sleepy? Causes And Safety Measures

Many around the world are dealing with pain issues, and Gabapentin has been one of those medications that has helped so many patients. As an anticonvulsant, it has been one of the safest options for pain relief, but it comes with some side effects. Sleepiness is one of the side effects. A lot of patients believe they feel drowsy and wander for, does gabapentin make you sleepy. Doctors believe it is a common side effect of the medication, which is why it is often prescribed off-label for sleeping issues. But it may turn out to be a little dangerous if the drug is misused. This blog will find out if Gabapentin makes you sleepy.

Is Gabapentin Addictive for Sleep?

What is Gabapentin?

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug primarily used for treating nerve pain and seizures. It is prescribed off-label for issues like diabetic neuropathy, anxiety, and sleep issues. Many can find Gabapentin in many forms like tablets, capsules, oral solutions, and also with brand names like Grallise, Neurontin, and Horizant. It is considered a very safe painkiller, which is why it is not a controlled substance and is not very addictive either. It works by entering the calcium channels present in our nerves and binding with their alpha units. This makes the medication slow down the neurotransmitters, causing pain and calming down the overreactive nerves.

Is Gabapentin Safe?

It is seen as one of the safest drugs for pain relief because, if you compare it with stronger painkillers like opioids, Gabapentin is much safer. But it is a known fact that Gabapentin can show some repercussions if not used properly by the patient. Numerous side effects of Gabapentin can trouble a patient if their Gabapentin dose is high. Some of the common ones can be feeling dizzy, having drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, weight gain because of gabapentin, and feeling very sleepy. This is why doctors sometimes find that Gabapentin can improve the quality of sleep, as it is common. But patients wonder why this drug makes them want to sleep more than usual.

Why Does Gabapentin Make You Sleepy?

It turns out that feeling sleepy due to Gabapentin is not just a side effect but one of its mechanisms. While it calms down the overreactive nerves Gabapentin does another function in our nervous system. It mimics a chemical named GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) whose function is to slow down nerve activity. As it mimics the chemical, Gabapentin does the same and causes a sedative feeling, a feeling that makes you feel asleep. This is why one feels drowsy and dizzy when taking Gabapentin. And this is mainly the reason why doctors can prescribe you Gabapentin if you have any sleeping issues.

How Long Does Gabapentin Make You Sleepy?

Gabapentin will make you feel sleepy for a few hours as its effects peak at around 2-3 hours. In this time period Gabapentin will try its best to reach its maximum levels in your blood and fulfill its task to treat nerve pain. It takes a good amount of time, around a few days, to adjust to your pain. This is when you feel sleepy and drowsy for most of the days in this dosage period. But sometimes the sleepiness and drowsiness can stay for long which indicates that you must cut some of your routine activities and let yourself heal.

Is Sleepiness Caused By Gabapentin Dangerous?

It is never meant to be, but if you are feeling sleepy because of Gabapentin, it can be dangerous. Prolonged dizziness and sleepiness that is only possible when you take the medication for too long, or you are on a high dose, can be severe. It can impact your daily life activities like driving, operating machines, tasks that require you to remember things, and so on. Another reason why this sleepiness can be dangerous is that you have mixed your drug with something potent. The two most common things you must avoid with Gabapentin are alcohol and opioids because they are very sedative.

Safety Measures For Sleepiness Due To Gabapentin

There are a few things that you can do to be safe and avoid any kind of negative impact on your health if you are feeling sleepy or drowsy for too long. These measures will help you understand your medication thoroughly.

• Avoid driving vehicles and using heavy machinery until the effects leave your system.
• Prevent falling down by standing up or sitting slowly with a support.
• Do not drink alcohol when you are on a Gabapentin dose because this interaction can depress the central nervous system dangerously.
• Do not take other sedative drugs like opioids or benzodiazepines because they can amplify the effects of the drug.
• If you are taking any antacids in your routine, like zinc or magnesium tablets, take them 2 hours before Gabapentin.
• You may feel sleepy in the day, for which you can ask your doctor and try to change your dose to take it before going to sleep.
• If the symptoms worsen, then do not stop the medication right away. Call your doctor or the emergency care.

Medications That Can Help Sleepiness Caused By Gabapentin

There are primarily three drugs that can help with sleepiness here, and all three of them have to be medically advised to you. Gabapentin-induced sleepiness is countered mostly with two stimulants: Provigil and Ritalin. These two are recommended by doctors because they help in increasing one’s attention and alertness. Besides these two, the primary solution for improving sleep and wakefulness in the day is Melatonin. It is a very safe option as it is a natural medication. In cases where a neuropathic patient taking Gabapentin is facing sleepiness is also an allergic, they can use antihistamines like Claritin and Loratadine. 

Conclusion

So if you are wondering, will Gabapentin make you sleepy, you know the answer now. It all depends on the secondary mechanism of the drug, i.e., to mimic the GABA chemical found in the brain. It is very common and can be averted by obeying the process and taking a nap until the medication stops working. Follow the dosage as advised by the doctor and you will never be affected by Gabapentin side effects.