For years, obesity was considered to be a disease that mostly affected adults. However, the tide is gradually changing, and children are now being diagnosed with it too. In fact, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 20 million American adults are now considered to be overweight or obese. This makes it the 2nd-largest health issue in the country after cancer. What’s even more disheartening is the fact that many adults are suffering from the disease without even realizing it. One of the most common methods prescribed by doctors for patients who are overweight or obese is obesity medication. Among the most popular medications are sibutramine hydrochloride, orbrand name: Meridia, and orlistat, orbrand name: Xenical.
Has It Been Proven That Gabapentin Works?
While there are still many unanswered questions regarding the long-term effects of obesity, there is one fact that researchers can certainly attest to: obesity is linked to many health problems, and sometimes, medication is needed to treat it. One of the best examples of this is gabapentin. Also known as Neurontin or Varacatin, this medication has been shown to be effective in both reducing and controlling obesity. In fact, several clinical trials have demonstrated that it is more effective than traditional medications such as orlistat and sibutramine in treating obesity. In a clinical trial that examined the effects of Neurontin on patients with obesity that lasted for 12 weeks, those who were on Neurontin were able to lose significantly more weight than those who were on a placebo.
How Does Gabapentin Work?
Like other medications, gabapentin needs to be taken regularly to be effective. However, unlike most other medications, gabapentin has been shown to have a unique mechanism of action when it comes to treating obesity. Instead of targeting just one factor (i.e., appetite, satiety, or body weight), gabapentin has been proven to affect all three of these factors. In other words, gabapentin allows your body’s natural chemicals (i.e., endorphins) to function properly, resulting in a higher level of happiness and wellbeing.
Your body produces natural pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins when it is subjected to physical stress. Endorphins make you feel better and promote relaxation and pleasure. However, when your body’s production of these chemicals is hindered (i.e., because of pain or lack of activity), you will experience mental and physical discomfort. This is where gabapentin comes in. By enabling your body’s endorphin production, gabapentin allows you to experience less physical and mental discomfort, and thus promotes weight loss. In fact, a number of studies have shown that gabapentin is more effective in weight loss than other medications, such as orlistat and sibutramine.
The Difference In Weight Loss Between Patients
Because gabapentin is relatively new to the medication market, it’s not really known how much weight different individuals will lose while on the medication. However, what is known is that some people will lose a lot more weight than others. In a study led by researchers at the University of Michigan, participants were given either a placebo or Neurontin (gabapentin) for 12 weeks. At the end of the 12 weeks, the participants who were on Neurontin had lost an average of 17 pounds, while those who were on a placebo had lost an average of 7 pounds. While this may not seem like a difference of 10 pounds, if you’re very overweight, this may mean the difference between being able to wear clothes that you want or being restricted to your bedding. In some cases, the weight loss achieved with gabapentin has been reported to be as much as 25 pounds.
How Long Does It Take For Gabapentin To Work?
Although gabapentin has been shown to work as quickly as within the first week of treatment, the medication usually takes several weeks to start seeing notable results. During this time, you will need to continue taking it on a regular basis to maintain the weight loss. However, it is important to note that even after discontinuing treatment, the results can still be seen for up to 6 months. Furthermore, in some cases, patients have seen benefits from gabapentin after as little as 2–3 weeks of treatment. This means that in some people, the medication might be able to be effective right away, without needing to be started at a low dose and built up gradually.
Risk Factors For Gabapentin
Just like with any medication or therapy, there are certain factors that make some people more susceptible to the effects of gabapentin than others. Women are more likely to be affected than men are. This is mainly because women have been shown to have lower body fat percentages and are thus more likely to lose weight. In addition, children and older adults are at a greater risk of developing the drug’s side effects. This is because the body’s endorphin production declines with age, and so does the medication’s effect.
As mentioned previously, gabapentin has unique properties that make it particularly effective in weight loss. In addition, it has been shown to have both anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties. However, this medication can cause mental and physical symptoms in some people. Some of these symptoms include: drowsiness, insomnia, agitation, anxiety, tremors, dizziness, and tachycardia (rapid heart rate). If you experience any of these symptoms while taking gabapentin, it might be beneficial to discontinue treatment and try again later when the side effects have diminished.
Due to its unique properties, gabapentin is often prescribed for patients who are unable to manage their diabetes on their own (e.g., children, the elderly, etc.). In these cases, it might be a good idea to try another type of medication for diabetes (e.g., insulin), as combining these two medications can be problematic. Another common use for gabapentin is to help patients who are in severe pain (e.g., due to arthritis) but are unable to take pain medication (e.g., because of drug interactions or allergy). In this case, it might be a good idea for the patient to try gabapentin instead, as it is usually not as addictive as other pain medications and does not have the same adverse effects (e.g., constipation, dry mouth, etc.). If you’re unsure of how gabapentin fits into your treatment plan, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.