From gentle snuffles to loud rasps and snorts, snoring is common. An estimated 45 percent of adults snore occasionally, while 25 percent snore regularly—often disturbing their bed partner’s slumber and possibly their own, too. You’re more likely to snore if you’re overweight, are a middle-aged or older man, or are a postmenopausal woman. These night noises seem to worsen with age.
Snoring is the sound of obstructed breathing, which can be caused by some basic factors, such as poor muscle tone, bulky throat tissue, or a long soft palate or uvula. It may also be a red flag that you have a treatable health condition that is interfering with breathing while you sleep—such as nasal congestion caused by a sinus infection or allergy, nasal polyps (noncancerous growths in the nose), or a deviated septum.
But in some cases, snoring may be connected to more serious, even life-threatening, health concerns.
What is Gabapentin?
Gabapentin capsules, tablets, and oral solutions are used along with other medications to help control certain types of seizures in people who have epilepsy. Gabapentin capsules, tablets, and oral solutions are also used to relieve the pain of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN; the burning, stabbing pain or aches that may last for months or years after an attack of shingles). Gabapentin extended-release tablets (Horizant) are used to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS; a condition that causes discomfort in the legs and a strong urge to move the legs, especially at night and when sitting or lying down). Gabapentin is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants.
Gabapentin treats seizures by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. Gabapentin relieves the pain of PHN by changing the way the body senses pain. It is not known exactly how gabapentin works to treat restless legs syndrome.
Gabapentin is also sometimes used to relieve the pain of diabetic neuropathy (numbness or tingling due to nerve damage in people who have diabetes), and to treat and prevent hot flashes (sudden strong feelings of heat and sweating) in women who are being treated for breast cancer or who have experienced menopause (”change of life”, the end of monthly menstrual periods). Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication for your condition.
Does gabapentin cause you to snore?
Although there is a scarcity of literature on the link between Gabapentin and snoring, surveys and anecdotal reports have reported snoring among people who take Gabapentin, especially women between the ages of 40-49 years old, who have been taking the drug for between 1 – 6 months.
Drugs like Gabapentin that work in the brain can increase the risk of snoring. Gabapentin treats seizures by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain and findings have shown that snoring is linked to smaller volumes of multiple regions of the brain’s frontal lobe, an area involved in cognitive functions such as problem-solving, impulse control, and social interactions.
If gabapentin is making you snore and affecting your sleep, there are several alternative prescription drugs that can be used in its place. These medications may have fewer side effects and may provide more desirable results for the treatment of seizures and neuropathic types of pain. Discuss these with your doctor because gabapentin cannot be abruptly stopped as it can cause increased episodes of seizures. Withdrawal symptoms have also been linked with suddenly discontinuing gabapentin. When a gradual transition plan is made with your healthcare provider, this reduces the potential of complications when stopping gabapentin. Gradual reduction of this medication is important so that the new alternative treatment can be started safely.
What are the other side effects of Gabapentin?
Common side effects of gabapentin include:
- Feeling tired.
- Dizziness.
- Headache.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Fever.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Recurring infections.
- Memory loss.
- Weight gain.
- Movement problems: coordination problems, being unsteady, tremors, jerky movements.
- Eye problems: unusual eye movements, double vision.
Talk to your healthcare provider if any side effects do not go away.
What are the serious side effects of gabapentin?
If you have any of these symptoms, call your healthcare provider right away:
• Signs of an allergic reaction: If you have a skin rash, hives, itching or swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever contact your healthcare provider. You should also contact your provider if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, wheezing, or swelling of your face, lips, throat, eyes, mouth, or tongue.
• Changes in mood or behavior: Call your provider for any suicidal thoughts or thoughts about dying, suicide attempts, new or worsening depression, anxiety, irritability, or feelings of agitation or restlessness. You should also call your provider for trouble sleeping, panic attacks, feelings of aggression or anger, impulsive behavior, extreme increase in activity or talking and other changes in mood or behavior, confusion, inability to focus or memory problems as these can be side effects of your medication.
• Signs of liver abnormalities: Yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, dark urine, light-colored stools, vomiting, unusual bleeding or bruising.
• Signs of kidney abnormalities: Trouble urinating, a change in how much urine is passed, blood in your urine, or weight gain and swelling of legs and feet from retaining fluid.
• Other concerning abnormalities: Change in color of your skin to a bluish color on your lips, nail beds, fingers, or toes along with severe fatigue or weakness and unexpected muscle pain.
