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Gabapentin sudden death

Posted , 17 users are following.

wilma60
wilma60

our daughter was prescribed Gabapentin earlier this year for the Peripheral Neuropathy pain. She was 5feet talk and weighed 11 stone. The side effects were horrific. Induced fits up to 25 daily. Rash. Behaviour changes. Hallucinations. Panic attacks and weight gain. She gained one stone per month. This was not diet related. She became unable to walk more than a few steps. They put her on 4800 milligrams daily. She was drugged, developed jerky movements, and was 20 stone within 9 months. All tests were normal she died suddenly in her sleep last month. Despite pleas for help she was ignored. All health professionals and six pharmacists are so shocked at the level she was prescribed we are seeking to stop anyone else from suffering the way she did this last year. We are heartbroken and don't know how we will cope with such an unnecessary loss.

2 likes, 67 replies

67 Replies

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  • wanganui
    wanganui wilma60

    Posted

    wilma that's absolutely heartbreaking for you all....an unnecessary death of a beautiful daughter! My heart goes out to you at this sad time.How could any doctor have allowed your daughter to be on that dosage! It is outrageous.

    I was thinking of asking my doctor if I could go on this medication tomorrow but now I wont.

    • marshall71
      marshall71 wanganui

      Posted

      I've been on the high dose of gabapentin since May I see my GP ever month for a update on my side effects and how Iam getting on with the drug any new side effects I get I tell him I take it for chronic peripheral neuropathy it's a very good drug if used right
    • wanganui
      wanganui marshall71

      Posted

      Thanks Marsh for that input! I have idiopathic facial pain.I have so many side effects from the meds that I have used and this med was my next call......to say the least I am scared to try it yet want to try it if it is such a good med.It seems you are having good results with it.Great!
  • katrinas
    katrinas wilma60

    Posted

    I am so sorry for your loss. I joined this discussion just to advocate for patients like myself and others to be able to warn other sufferers who have been prescribed this awful medication of the horrible side effects. This is the first I have heard of anyone taking or being prescribed such a high dosage. I am glad that you shared this news so that others may be warned. I know that nothing will bring your child back to you but I encourage you to spread the word so that your loss will serve to warn others and maybe save a future life. Also, I hop ethat you seek a good personal injury attorney and sue the crap out of those prescribing doctors. They are monsters. My thoughts and prayers are with you. 
    • wilma60
      wilma60 katrinas

      Posted

      Thank you Katrinas. Our concern is for others and how much our daughter suffered during this last year. No money will bring her back so it's not about the money. She leaves three children a husband who is a widower at 38 and us As her parents who don't know how to get through such a tragic unnecessary loss. Thank you for your kind words
  • cathy_71536
    cathy_71536 wilma60

    Posted

    So sorry for your loss, I  just want to inform you that there has been deaths from the use of gabapentin in the United States, my husband was using to help with his alocholism, however after using gabapentin for 4 months passed away at the age of 53. His death is still under investigation,  I hope you find your answer just wanted to share this info.
    • marshall71
      marshall71 cathy_71536

      Posted

      Sorry to hear of your husbands very sad to read and I do feel your loss
    • wilma60
      wilma60 cathy_71536

      Posted

      I'm really sorry. What level was he on and for how on. This sounds very similar to our daughters situation. We are still awaiting case of death
  • cathy_71536
    cathy_71536 wilma60

    Posted

    You need to check your heart before taking gabapentin, don't let the Dr. tell you any different, please share.

     

    • Holly1974
      Holly1974 cathy_71536

      Posted

      I had never heard of this, although I do not take it now anyway...as far as I am concerned this drug has a lot to answer for. A lot of drs think it is some sort miracle drug, but far from it. I think everyone in chronic pain is so eager for relief, they want to believe in it, but for me at least the side effects both short and long term were just too much....I would love to know if it is properly reported to the authorites like FDA is US, and what ever it is in UK, I forget, I think side effects are under reported by drs for sure
  • marshall71
    marshall71 wilma60

    Posted

    Hi

    I will understand if you don't want too and it maybe too upsetting for you and your family but may I ask if you could tell people on here the findings so we can all learn

    If it's too much just ignore my post

    Many thank

    Paul

    • wilma60
      wilma60 marshall71

      Posted

      It's been a long road waiting for the outcome of further tests to establish a cause of death. This week we are infomred 'natural causes'. 

      The cause was the overweight which caused fatty deposits to build up and block her arteries and her heart failed. Not  a heart attack but heart failure.

      At 5ft in 9 months she went from 11 stone to 20 stone. A stone per month due to the Gabapentin.

      We raised concerns about the weight gain in the second month.

      Nothing was done and all professionals including pain clinic doctor, GP, dietician, physio and pharmacists all put it down to the Gabapentin and the high dose of 4800 milligrams a day.

      She was drugged, sleepy, jerking movements, seizures. Just horrendous and in excrutiating pain. She went from mobile xmas 2014 to immobile two months later due to swelling in feet and legs and the pain

      The reason she put on weight was the Gabapentin.in the first place. We are unhappy with the outcome to sy the least. We believe this is due to neglect, lack of monitoring this dangerous drug and the amount prescribed. Thank you for your concern

    • marshall71
      marshall71 wilma60

      Posted

      Thank you for the post which must be hard for you to write I hope your are going too take this further with the BMA and other bodies to show what a dangerous drug it is I'm so sorry the outcome had been negative seems to me it's a act of Negligence from your doctor and other specialist your Daughter saw.

      Thank you for this and the info

      Regards

      Paul

    • marshall71
      marshall71 wilma60

      Posted

      MP and the BMA get legal advice the media BBC sky etc spread the news of the outcome

      It may be too much for you to do

      Regards Paul

    • Holly1974
      Holly1974 wilma60

      Posted

      Dear Wilma,

      Thank you for your update, it must have been heart breaking watching her go through it and of course what untimately happened. I too would be upset with this as an outcome, since evryone said it was the gabapentin that caused the weight gain and such a high dose too ! I agree this drug has far more to answer for and in some people has a terrible side effect profile. I hope in time you are able to find peace.

    • marshall71
      marshall71 Holly1974

      Posted

      That's a massive dose too be on is it safe ? In this case no it's not safe to take I take 9x 3 300 2,700 mg
    • wilma60
      wilma60 marshall71

      Posted

      The highest dose they should prescribe is 3600 a day but our pharmacists have never know that level to be prescribed. The 4800 proved to be lethal
    • Holly1974
      Holly1974 marshall71

      Posted

      Like I have said elsewhere before, I was told the highest effective dose with out escalation of side effects beyond the increase in benefits was 1800mg. So whilst it canbe used up to 3600mg a day, I was always told there was very little evidence to support it's use above 1800mg due to side effects increasing substantially on doses over 1800mg. That's the best I can offer. Having been on 1800mg, ( 600mg am, afternoon and pm ) I can honestly say that's done enough damage to me - I can't imagine trying to function or ever get off it again in doses above that.
    • marshall71
      marshall71 Holly1974

      Posted

      Worried of the long term damaged the drugs will do in later life memory loss etc it's a worry for me
    • Holly1974
      Holly1974 marshall71

      Posted

      I know what you mean re memory loss....I started noticing it as a side effect about a year into treatment....the diff. was that was dr told me it was nothing to concern myself with, basically implies it wasn't the drug ( they don't dispute it now after a few years have gone by though !)....I asked if the dr knew if my memory would return once I was off it, I was told that other people that had experienced it under their treatment and then come off it had noticed a change for the better, but I was told not to expect miracles.....to be honest, I don't think they know !!? If the drug company knows they are not telling......it took me ages to to get the medical profession to realise that I and others were experiencing problems, I expect it's vastly under reported. I dropped to 1500mg from the inital 1800mg a day, but no change in memory function. Symptoms very similar to early stages of Alzheimer's disease, in fact I know a few older people who actually thought that they had Alzhemier's and didn't realise it potentially was the gabapentin.!! worrying, really.
    • marshall71
      marshall71 Holly1974

      Posted

      I don't even know if this is the right drug I should be on? I don't have PN the test said no nerve damage at all it was normal a 3 doctors said I had PN before having any EMG test the pain is in my hip and si joint looked into today and the tingling and numbness down my leg left is the sign of si joint pain it seems they know this I've told everyone that looked

      Yes the side effects are a worry long term or even short term I can't say remember days or dates I have to look it up find watching to hard to concentrate for a Period my mind will switch off I've look at all the side effects on the notes

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