Gabapentin Side Effects/ experiences

[catherine22]

My bitch has severe arthritis which is managed by Carprogesic and Tramadol. She has the maximum dose of both.
As sometimes she gets ‘wind-up’ disorder (the nerves interpret any stimulus as pain), she was prescribed Gabapentin. She started on this on 1st June, by the 3rd she was starting to have accidents overnight, which she never does. I took her off the tablets straight away, spoke to the vets who asked for a urine sample which they had on 7th. This showed she had quite a lot of bacteria so she was put on antibiotics. The vet said it was highly unlikely to be related to the tablets and more likely just unfortunate coincidence, to finish the course of antibiotics then start the tablets again.
She finished the antibiotics on 15th I gave her until 17th to make sure she was back to normal, which she was. Can you see where this is going?!
Started the tablets again yesterday, she had one in the morning and one yesterday evening, I came downstairs this morning and there was a wet patch.
I am waiting for the vet to phone me back this morning, but it looks like she’ll probably need a another urine sample and potentially more antibiotics and to not use these drugs any more so I’ll ask him if there’s an alternative.
Has any one else experienced this as a side effect or had any experiences with these drugs? There doesn’t seem to be much on the internet or on the leaflet but will pick the vets brains when he rings back

 

[twisteddiamond]

no idea in dogs, but my mum takes it for nerve pain, even though it is primarily a anti seizure med, it makes her really drowsy and does increase her need to pee, she was also told not to just stop them as it can cause chronic rebound pain, she is to gradually decrease the dose

 

[twiglet84]

It would have made more sense that they repeated the urine test before restarting the gabapentin as the antibiotics may have not resolved the infection. Some urine infections take weeks of antibiotics and some bacteria is resistant to some types of antibiotics. Ideally need to culture the urine to work out what type of infection is present and then it can be treated accordingly xxxx

Good luck xx

 

[catherine22]

New urine sample has gone in this morning for full analysis so hopefully that will get some results and as the vet is convinced it is not the gabapentin! Should get results later today or monday
Want to get her sorted asap as she also has no spleen so any infections she does get could be fatal, which is my other reasoning for not thinking its infection as she is so happy and bright. But will wait and see!
Thank you

 

[catherine22]

Just to update, incase anyone else has this issue.
The urine test results can back completely clear, no bacteria or any signs of kidney disfunction, so the weeing has been put down to the gabapentin. The vet was as surprised as anyone as there's nothing on the net or in any vets books, that we have found, that states this can be a side effect in dogs.
But I guess there always has to be a first 'case'!