Ian Maidmont, professor of clinical pharmacy at Aston University in Birmingham, also notes that the analysis did not take into account treatment duration or dosage. He points out that other similar studies have not found a link. “So it’s still unclear whether gabapentin causes dementia,” he adds.
Dr. Neil Anand, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who was not involved in the study, points out that the only way to prove a causal link is to compare patients taking only the drug to a similar group not taking it, ensuring they were taking it correctly. He concludes, however, “At least we can be aware of the potential side effects of prolonged use of gabapentin.”
Main conclusions
Despite the limitations of the observational study, the authors recommend caution when taking this drug.
“It is clinically important that physicians prescribing gabapentin for chronic pain routinely perform cognitive assessments in their patients,” says Eghrari. He also advises physicians to be cautious. “I recommend that patients taking this medication notify their physician immediately if they experience cognitive impairments such as confusion, memory impairment, or slowed thinking.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, other serious side effects to watch for include allergic reactions, mood and behavior changes, suicidal thoughts, jaundice, and blood in the urine. Patients should not stop gabapentin treatment or change its dosage without consulting a doctor. Abrupt discontinuation can lead to complications, such as an increased risk of seizures in people being treated for epilepsy.
Eghrari concludes: “We hope to continue this research and determine if there is a real cause-and-effect relationship between gabapentin and cognitive impairment. We also plan to study the mechanisms by which the drug might affect brain function.”
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