Does taking gabapentin increase the chance of miscarriage?
Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. Studies have not been done to see if gabapentin can increase the chance of miscarriage in human pregnancy. Animal studies reported an increased chance for miscarriage.
Does taking gabapentin increase the chance of birth defects?
Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk. Small, controlled studies on gabapentin have not suggested an increased chance of birth defects. There is also no known pattern of birth defects associated with the use of gabapentin in pregnancy.
One study looked at the pregnancy outcomes of people who received prescriptions for gabapentin. When looking at the outcomes of all the study participants, gabapentin exposure during early pregnancy does not appear to increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. When the authors only looked at the data from participants who filled at least two prescriptions for gabapentin in the first trimester, an increased chance of heart defects was seen. Studies based on prescriptions cannot tell if a person took the medication, so it is hard to know if the outcomes are related to the medication being studied or other factors.
Gabapentin might lower levels of folic acid in people who take this medication. Some professional organizations recommend that people on this type of medication take a higher dose of folic acid, while other groups do not. Talk with your healthcare provider about how much folic acid is right for you. Please see our fact sheet on folic acid/folate here.
Does taking gabapentin in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?
Pregnancy-related problems, such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth) have been reported in some studies looking at the use of gabapentin during pregnancy. However, is hard to know if these problems are from the gabapentin, from the underlying health condition(s) being treated, or other factors.
I need to take gabapentin throughout my entire pregnancy. Will it cause withdrawal symptoms in my baby after birth?
Studies have not been done to see if gabapentin use alone can cause withdrawal in a newborn. One study found that when gabapentin is combined with opioids late in pregnancy, withdrawal can occur. It is not known how often withdrawal occurs in babies exposed to this combination. It is important that your healthcare providers know you are taking gabapentin so that if symptoms occur your baby can get the care that is best for them. The baby can be monitored for symptoms such as unusual eye, tongue, and/or muscle movements, restlessness of the arms and legs, and arching of the back after birth.
Does taking gabapentin in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?
One study that looked at 378 children exposed to gabapentin during pregnancy did not find an increased chance of conditions that affect how the brain works (neurodevelopmental disorders), conditions that cause problems with social and communication skills (pervasive developmental disorders), intellectual disability, or communication-related disorders.
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