Can Gabapentin Cause Slurred Speach?

Posted on Fri, 23 Aug 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 23 Aug 2013 Answered on

Tue, 10 Sep 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Can gabapentin cause slurred speach?

Answered by Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes

Detailed Answer:
Dear patient,

Indeed, gabapentin can cause drowsiness and slurred speech, particularly at high doses over 900 mg daily or in patients with kidney failure, or when combined with other sedatives/hypnotics.

Yours truly,

Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Mayo Clinic MN

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (2 minutes later)

So it can mimic a seizure?

Answered by Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes

Detailed Answer:
Yes, slurred speech is one of the basic criteria to suspect an acute stroke, but there are usually other localized signs of neurologic impairment. If it is due to the medication, holding it would make symptoms resolve if they are causally related

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (8 minutes later)

so what are you saying?

Answered by Dr. Jorge Brenes-Salazar (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Sorry about the confusion

Detailed Answer:
Sorry, for some reason I thought you were asking me about mimic of a stroke not seizure; actually, slurred speech would be a HIGHLY UNLIKELY manifestation of a seizure.

Hope that answers the second specific query

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar