Can gabapentin make you angry?

By OptimistMinds
Page last updated: 23/09/2022 | Next review date: 23/09/2024

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The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter.  The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.


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In this blog post, we are going to talk about the possibility of gabapentin making you angry. Gabapentin is a gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) analog and is used for a number of conditions. 

However, this medicine can cause a number of side effects including anger and irritability. This blog will cover why gabapentin acts this way and what could be done to help relieve your anger. 

Can gabapentin make you angry?

Yes, gabapentin can make some individuals angry and agitated. Several surveys have revealed that gabapentin can make people behave angrily and erratically. The drug can also cause significant mood swings without a valid reason. 

It can also cause depression, sadness and suicidal behavior. These mood fluctuations are most probably linked to the mechanism of action of gabapentin. Gabapentin is a gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) analog and it mimics the actions of this inhibitory neurotransmitter. 

GABA reduces the neuronal firing rate and naturally calms our mind down. When you take gabapentin, it starts acting like GABA and the inhibitory effects increase in your body. 

Any drug that can alter the amounts of neurotransmitters in your brain can make behavioural changes in you. It can either make you angry, agitated and irritated or the inhibitory action can mess up with the levels of excitatory neurotransmitters and you may feel depressed. 

It is impossible to predict how your body will react once it is exposed to this medication. Every single individual shows different signs and there is no way to set a standard for the side effects of gabapentin. 

It is usually not tolerated well in many individuals and the drug can cause serious complications in some people. Mood related side effects can make you feel the worst. 

This is because your brain controls everything in your body, every system. Be it happiness, sadness, thirst or hunger, all is controlled by your brain. When your brain is affected, all of the other things are compromised. 

What to do if gabapentin makes you angry? 

There are a few things that you can try if gabapentin makes you angry:

Talk to your healthcare provider 

First thing’s first, talk to your doctor. If gabapentin makes you angry and you start to experience real consequences because of that anger, this indicates that this medication is messing up with your brain. Your doctor will make sure if you’re on the right dose. 

Sometimes, the dose is too high and people can’t seem to tolerate it well and keep complaining of disturbing side effects. If your anger keeps progressing and you feel like you have turned into someone you’re not, you may need to discontinue the treatment with gabapentin. 

However, it is advised not to stop your gabapentin without your doctor’s approval, especially if you have been on a high dose. Gabapentin withdrawal syndrome is real and can affect people who are on higher doses. 

Sleep well

People who are sleep deprived are more likely to suffer from anger and agitation caused by gabapentin. If you continue to sleep well, it may make positive changes in your brain. Several studies suggest that when you sleep well at night, you wake up with a better mood and better energy levels. 

Centers for disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suggests following tips to make your sleep quality better than it is now. These include:

  • Try to go to bed at the same time every day, working days as well as weekends. 
  • Make sure your bedroom is always quiet, dark, relaxing, and at a comfortable temperature to help you relax and make your sleep quality better.
  • Do not use electronic devices or gadgets before going to bed. They reduce your sleep quality. Make sure you remove such devices from your room or switch them off.
  • Avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime. They will only ruin your sleep quality.
  • Stay active. Exercise can help relax your muscles and make your sleep quality better.

Stay active

Staying active is the best way to fight against anger. Make sure you workout at least 3 to 4 times a week. Exercise releases happy chemicals in your brain. It not only makes you feel good, but also spikes your energy levels and elevates your mood. 

Morning workout is considered most efficient in head-starting your day. Go for a walk or do 10 minutes of high intensity interval training (HITT). It not only helps you to overcome anger caused by gabapentin, but it also makes your body healthy, like actually healthy. 

Some of the best exercises to increase energy levels include:

  • Yoga
  • Pilates
  • Tai Chi
  • Resistance strength training

Stay hydrated 

Drink plenty of water. Water clears out toxins from your body. Try making a detox water by adding your favourite fruits in it. You can add lemon, cucumber, kiwi, oranges, berries, ginger etc, to make drinking water less boring. 

This will not only add taste, but also makes your water nutritious and full of antioxidants. 

Absorb and radiate positive energy 

Try to keep your mind on the positive side. Studies suggest happiness and positivity increase elevates your mood and tones down your anger. When your brain absorbs positivity, it releases energy. 

So, always surround yourself with people who deal with you positively, people who are supportive and fill you up with optimism and people who make you look at the brighter side. 

Make time for fun activities 

Always have time for fun activities. Engage in activities which make you feel alive. For some people, it’s simply spending quality time with their friends and family. 

You can watch a funny movie, change your hairstyle, change your routine, have a weekend away, go hiking, etc. Do not pack yourself up with work and daily life activities. Always have some time to take everything off of your shoulders. Trust me, it’s worth it! 

Limit alcohol and caffeine 

Caffeine can affect your sleep by keeping you awake for a longer period of time and can make you angry and anxious the next day. The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) recommends no more than 400 milligrams (about four or five cups of coffee) per day. 

In addition, caffeine’s half-life can range from 2-12 hours, so try to avoid drinking coffee or any other caffeinated beverage within six hours of bedtime or else you’ll stay awake and the night will become unbearable for you. 

Make sure you are not using any other medication that might interact negatively with gabapentin or enhance its side effects. Drug interactions should be an important consideration before taking two or more medicines together. 

Yes, drugs in combination are often used to achieve better therapeutic response but this is not the case with every interaction. Some drugs are highly incompatible with one another. 

They often cancel out each other’s effects or antagonise them. Some drugs are so incompatible that they end up changing the entire chemical composition of one another. 

Some interfere with metabolism or bioavailability (the rate and extent at which the active drug moiety enters systemic circulation/blood). This can lead to drug accumulation in different parts of the body. 

It is always advised to inform your healthcare provider of any medicine you take before getting a new prescription. Your doctor will make sure not to prescribe any such drug which might interfere with those you are already taking. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed gabapentin induced anger. Gabapentin is used for a number of conditions. However, this medicine can cause a number of side effects including anger and irritability. The drug can also cause significant mood swings without a valid reason. 

It can also cause depression, sadness and suicidal behavior. These mood fluctuations are most probably linked to the mechanism of action of gabapentin. When you take gabapentin, it starts acting like GABA and the inhibitory effects increase in your body. 

Any drug that can alter the amounts of neurotransmitters in your brain can make behavioural changes in you. Make sure you are not using any other medication that might interact negatively with gabapentin or enhance its side effects. 

FAQs: Gabapentin anger 

Does gabapentin cause mood swings?

Yes, gabapentin can cause mood swings. The med can make you angry and agitated. It can cause significant mood swings without a valid reason. It can also cause depression, sadness and suicidal behavior. These mood fluctuations are most probably linked to the mechanism of action of gabapentin. 

Is gabapentin psychotic?

Gabapentin may induce the symptoms of psychosis. Several surveys have revealed that gabapentin can make people behave angrily and erratically. When you take gabapentin, it starts acting like GABA and the inhibitory effects increase in your body. Any drug that can alter the amounts of neurotransmitters in your brain can make behavioural changes in you.

What to do if gabapentin makes you angry? 

First thing’s first, talk to your doctor. If gabapentin makes you angry and you start to experience real consequences because of that anger, this indicates that this medication is messing up with your brain. Your doctor will make sure if you’re on the right dose. 

What should I avoid while taking gabapentin?

  • Narcotic analgesics: Both narcotic opioid analgesics and gabapentin decrease the amount of excitatory neurotransmitters in your brain. This can slow down your physiological functions including breathing rate. 
  • Alcohol can also act as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. The synergistic effects of alcohol and gabapentin can cause severe depression and suicidal behavior.
  • Certain diabetic agents may react with gabapentin and cause increased water retention, which results in swelling or edema in upper and lower extremities, or any other part of the body.

What is the most common side effect of gabapentin?

The most common side effects of gabapentin include:

  • Xerostomia or dry mouth 
  • Weight gain 
  • Dizziness 
  • Somnolence
  • Swollen hands and feet
  • Headache
  • Vision problems 
  • Cloudy mind
  • Fatigue
  • Tremors 
  • Confusion
  • Joint pain 

What does gabapentin do to a person?

Gabapentin is a gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) analog. Gabapentin mimics the actions of GABA, which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. GABA works by inhibiting the excessive neuronal firing in the brain which reduces the frequency of epileptic seizures. 

Gabapentin is also used to reduce the intensity of neuropathic pain by inhibiting nociceptors (pain receptors). This medication is a prescription medication and should be taken only at doses determined by your healthcare professional. 

References 

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