Is Memory Loss From Gabapentin Permanent?

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Memory loss (amnesia) and other cognitive changes are possible side effects that are listed on the FDA-approved label for some versions of gabapentin. Studies have not established that gabapentin causes permanent brain damage or memory loss. However, recent studies suggest that gabapentin use may be associated with a higher-than-expected risk of developing dementia for some populations. More research is needed to understand if gabapentin-related memory problems may be permanent.

If someone taking gabapentin experiences memory loss, they or a loved one should discuss their concerns with a physician. Patients should not change how they take gabapentin unless they receive new instructions from their doctor.

About the Gabapentin Memory Loss

Can Gabapentin Cause Memory Loss?

Gabapentin’s possible cognitive side effects  include memory problems, confusion, hallucinations (in severe cases of withdrawal or toxicity), and changes in how the patient thinks, feels, and behaves. Gabapentin may also make someone feel sedated, groggy, or tired, which may affect their memory. Gabapentin may also make it harder to pay attention, which could interfere with the patient’s ability to make new memories or recall existing ones.

How Does Memory Loss in People Who Take Gabapentin Present?

Memory loss presents with certain symptoms, whether or not someone is taking gabapentin or another drug that could impact their memory. Someone suffering from cognitive side effects and memory loss after taking gabapentin may experience symptoms they describe as:

• Forgetfulness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Slowed thinking
• “Brain fog”
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Excessive tiredness

Some of these symptoms may be unrelated to gabapentin, and not all gabapentin patients will experience these symptoms. Scientists are still researching to understand how gabapentin affects the brain and whether memory changes from gabapentin may be long-term or improve with a dose change. Gabapentin patients should talk to their doctors about any memory loss concerns.

Does Gabapentin Cause Amnesia?

There have been reports of people experiencing amnesia after they take gabapentin. The UK patient leaflet for gabapentin lists “loss of memory” (amnesia) as a common side effect. However, someone who has gabapentin-related amnesia may not have permanent memory loss or lasting brain damage. Severe memory loss, cognitive changes, or amnesia is an adverse event and should be reported to the gabapentin patient’s doctor.

Is Gabapentin Memory Loss Usually Reversible?

Some evidence suggests that memory loss from gabapentin may be reversible. Compounding factors may include how much gabapentin someone is taking, how quickly they increased or decreased the dose, or other factors. However, scientists are not sure if the cognitive and memory-related side effects of gabapentin are always reversible. More research is needed to understand how gabapentin affects someone’s brain.

How Long Does Gabapentin Memory Loss Last?

If someone started gabapentin and experienced memory loss, there is no set timeline for how long that memory loss endures. Instead, it depends on several factors, including whether they have kidney problems and the underlying reason for the memory loss.

For example, patients who have kidney problems may take longer to remove the drug from their system. The gabapentin may build up to toxic levels and cause adverse effects, such as confusion, coma, or altered consciousness. However, patients with kidney problems may get better once they get treatment to reduce the amount of gabapentin in their bodies and treat their symptoms.

What Affects the Gabapentin Memory-Loss Recovery Timeline?

Factors that can influence when someone may recover from memory loss after taking gabapentin include:

• Gabapentin dose
• How long they have been taking gabapentin
• Why they are taking it
• How often they take gabapentin
• Age
• What other medications they are on
• Kidney function
• When they last changed their gabapentin frequency or dosage
• Whether the patient has underlying health conditions

Other factors may change how long it takes for the memory problems experienced after gabapentin to improve or go away.

Can Memory Problems Continue After Stopping Gabapentin?

Memory problems from gabapentin may continue after the patient stops taking it. For example, the person may feel sedated, have trouble sleeping, feel anxious, have rebound pain, or have trouble thinking clearly while their body adjusts to not having gabapentin in their system. The patient should talk to their doctor about these symptoms to make sure they are normal and expected in the patient’s situation. The person’s memory problems may be unrelated to gabapentin.

One retrospective study found that some patients in the dataset who took gabapentin for chronic lower back pain had a higher dementia rate than those who did not take gabapentin. Dementia is a chronic condition that may get worse over time, even if the patient stops taking gabapentin. However, dementia-like symptoms (like those caused by a medication) may be reversible or improved with treatment.

Can Stopping Gabapentin Make Memory Problems Temporarily Worse?

Stopping gabapentin may cause withdrawal symptoms that could impact someone’s memory. Withdrawal symptoms that have been reported by some people (including those cited in case reports) after they recently stopped gabapentin include:

• Anxiety
• Sleeping problems
• Confusion
• Sweating
• Tremors
• Depression
• Seizures
• Rebound pain

Not all patients will experience these withdrawal symptoms, and some of these symptoms have not been confirmed in clinical trials. These symptoms may be more likely to occur if the person abruptly stops taking gabapentin or changes their dose too fast. However, some patients may experience withdrawal symptoms even if they gradually taper the dose down.

What Do Studies Say About Gabapentin and Cognitive Impairment?

Studies about how gabapentin affects someone’s cognition have produced mixed results. Some older studies where patients were prescribed gabapentin for epilepsy suggested that gabapentin use did not impact someone’s cognition or memory at low doses. However, a recent study (Risk of dementia following gabapentin prescription in chronic low back pain patients) suggested that patients under 65 who take gabapentin for chronic lower back pain may be more likely to develop cognitive impairment or dementia. The study found that some people who received six or more gabapentin prescriptions had a significantly higher risk of cognitive impairment or dementia (including memory loss).

Another study suggested that older adults who did not have a cognitive impairment (such as memory problems) when they started taking gabapentin had more signs of cognitive decline at the follow-up one or two years after starting gabapentin.

Scientists are continuing to study how gabapentin impacts the brain and affects people’s memory over time. If someone who takes or has taken gabapentin is experiencing profound memory loss or dementia-like symptoms, they should be seen by a doctor right away.

Why Do Gabapentin Studies Reach Different Conclusions?

Gabapentin studies may have reached different conclusions for several reasons, including:

• Different ways of measuring memory and cognition
• Small sample sizes
• Lack of randomized or controlled study
• Different treatment lengths
• Patients were given gabapentin for different reasons (seizures versus chronic pain)
• Not differentiating between sedation and cognitive impairment
• Patients were taking other medications
• Age and health differences between sample groups

Can Gabapentin Cause Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Or Cognitive Impairment?

Researchers have reported associations between taking gabapentin and being diagnosed with dementia or cognitive impairment. For example, results from a Taiwanese database found that patients in the database who took gabapentin or pregabalin had higher rates of dementia and cognitive impairment.

Another study of gabapentin patients with chronic lower back pain found that people who received six or more gabapentin prescriptions were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia or cognitive impairment. However, scientists have not confirmed a direct connection or if gabapentin use can cause dementia, and more research is underway to learn more. A recent study of the possible association did not find an increased risk of cognitive decline for those taking gabapentin over one or two years, but it did find a higher rate of falls for older adults with cognitive impairment taking gabapentin.

Why Do Gabapentin and Dementia Studies Not Prove Causation?

Even though some studies have suggested a connection between gabapentin and dementia, this does not prove causation at this time, because:

• People who take gabapentin may have underlying conditions or risk factors that impact their memory or cognition.
• Chronic pain (which gabapentin is used to treat off-label) may, on its own, be associated with cognitive decline, memory issues, and dementia.
• Epilepsy and seizure disorders (which gabapentin is FDA-approved to treat) may affect memory independently of the treatments used.
• The study may use a dataset that does not allow the researchers to control for variables that can interfere with the findings.
• Someone may have had a high risk of developing dementia regardless of whether they used gabapentin.
• Sleep disorders, depression, diabetes, and other factors may increase someone’s chance of developing memory problems.
• The patient may be taking medications that affect their memory or cognition.

It is important for patients to understand their individual risk factors and discuss those with their doctors when making health decisions. Additionally, many studies may focus on approved uses of gabapentin, when the majority of people taking gabapentin take it off-label.

What Does Animal Research Say About Gabapentin and Memory?

A 2025 animal study of long-term gabapentin use in mice found that aged mice given gabapentin scored worse in learning and memory than mice that were not given the drug. The animal study included groups of aged mice that were in pain and given gabapentin, and those that were not in pain and were given gabapentin. The researchers believed that gabapentin use may have changed how the mice’s memory centers (hippocampus) worked in the mice’s brains. However, more research is needed to understand if gabapentin has similar effects in humans.

Who Is Most at Risk of Memory Problems From Gabapentin?

People who may have a higher risk of side effects, including memory problems, when taking gabapentin include:

• Older adults
• People whose kidneys do not work well
• Patients on dialysis
• People on high doses
• People who quickly increase or decrease their gabapentin dose
• People with sleep apnea or respiratory disease
• People taking opioids or benzodiazepines
• People who drink alcohol or use cannabis
• Patients on other medications

Other factors may increase someone’s chances of experiencing side effects from gabapentin, including memory problems. However, someone who is young, healthy, and not taking other medications may experience memory problems, too.

Can Gabapentin Interactions Make Memory Loss Worse?

Gabapentin interactions may make memory problems worse. Because of this, patients who are on other medications or have other health conditions should talk to their doctor about the potential risks and benefits of taking gabapentin.

Gabapentin and Opioids

In 2019, the FDA warned that gabapentin patients who take opioids or have respiratory conditions may have an increased risk of severe breathing problems and sedation. Confusion, disorientation, bluish lips, and other changes may be signs of severe respiratory problems. Patients who think they are having trouble breathing should seek urgent medical treatment.

Gabapentin and Benzodiazepines

Gabapentin and benzodiazepines both slow down the central nervous system. Taking them together may increase the likelihood of breathing problems, confusion, and other side effects. In one study, patients who took gabapentin and a benzodiazepine for inpatient alcohol withdrawal treatment had higher anxiety scores and worse withdrawal symptoms in the first two to three days of being admitted. However, the higher anxiety score may have been due to other factors not discussed in the study.

Gabapentin and Alcohol or Sleep Medication

Combining gabapentin with sedating sleeping aids or alcohol may also increase how drowsy and sedated someone feels, which can impact their memory. Other side effects people might experience include confusion, poor concentration, slowed reaction time, and balance problems.

How Can Doctors Determine Whether Gabapentin Is Causing My Memory Loss?

A doctor may use several different methods to determine if gabapentin may be causing or worsening someone’s memory problems. The doctor may start by asking the patient about their medical history, what symptoms they are experiencing, when those started, and if there are times when those symptoms are better or worse.

Question 1: When Did the Memory Problems Begin?

Your doctor will want to know when your memory problems began. For example, they may want to know if they began after:

• Starting gabapentin
• Changing the dose of gabapentin you take
• Changing how often you take gabapentin
• Starting another medication
• Being diagnosed with kidney problems
• Having surgery
• Stopping gabapentin

You should not stop, start, or change your gabapentin medication unless your doctor tells you to. You should also tell your other doctors and surgeons that you are taking gabapentin.

Question 2: Do the Symptoms Change With the Dose?

Your doctor will want to know if your memory symptoms got worse or better after changing the gabapentin dose. Some patients may experience cognitive side effects after starting gabapentin or increasing their dose.

Decreasing the dose may also have this effect, especially if the patient does not gradually wean or taper off gabapentin. However, there has been at least one report of a patient with end-stage renal (kidney) failure who suffered from confusion and involuntary muscle movements after being given just one dose of gabapentin. The patient was given hemodialysis to get the high levels of gabapentin out of their system.

Question 3: Are Other Medical Conditions Contributing?

Your doctor may see if other medical conditions are causing your memory problems. Some conditions that may be causing or worsening your memory problems include:

• Kidney disease
• Thyroid disease
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Sleep apnea or insomnia
• Infection
• Seizures (including a partial seizure, which can be subtle)
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury
• Alcohol or cannabis use
• Dementia
• Pain disorders

Kidney disease may make it harder for your body to remove gabapentin or other medications from your system. The other conditions listed may impact your memory for other reasons.

Question 4: What Testing May Be Recommended?

Tests that your doctor may order to find the source of your memory problems include:

• Kidney function tests
• Thyroid level tests
• Vitamin B12 testing
• Blood glucose testing
• Blood count
• Cognitive screening
• Brain imaging studies
• Neurological exam
• Medication review
• Sleep study
• Mental health evaluation

Your doctor may order other tests based on what they discover in your medical history or results. However, not every gabapentin patient with memory problems will need to have these tests.

Can You Recover Completely From Gabapentin Memory Loss?

You may be able to completely recover from gabapentin-related memory loss, depending on why you experienced memory loss and other factors. For example, a kidney patient’s memory problems, confusion, or other cognitive symptoms might improve after a dialysis treatment (in severe cases). However, scientists are still investigating how gabapentin affects the brain and whether some forms of memory loss or cognitive changes may be permanent.

What Is the Bottom Line on Permanent Memory Loss From Gabapentin?

The memory loss associated with gabapentin use may be temporary. For instance, if an abrupt change in dose or frequency is the culprit, then tapering down or titrating up (under medical supervision) may resolve the patient’s memory problems. If the gabapentin patient has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease, their memory problems may not get better. However, the person’s gabapentin use may be unrelated to their separate diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Animal and human studies about gabapentin and memory have produced mixed results. Recent observational studies have suggested an association between gabapentin for pain relief and memory or cognitive impairment. Scientists are still exploring if gabapentin can cause memory problems and if these memory problems can be permanent. Your doctor can help you determine if your memory problems may be related to your gabapentin use and, if so, how long it may take for your memory to improve.

King Law Is Investigating Gabapentin Memory Loss Claims

King Law is investigating claims involving people who took gabapentin and experienced memory problems, cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. We can help you determine if you will have a viable lawsuit against a gabapentin manufacturer. Our team can help you defend your legal rights and seek compensation for alleged gabapentin-related memory loss.

Contact Robert King Law Firm For a Free Case Review

Call Robert King Law Firm today to schedule a free case review. We can be reached by dialing (585) 496-2648 or filling out an online contact form. An attorney on our team can talk to you about your gabapentin use and memory problems to decide if you might qualify for compensation. Some of the services we offer to gabapentin patients with memory problems include requesting and reviewing medical records, conducting legal research, filing legal documents, negotiating settlements, and going to court. Contact our team to learn more about gabapentin lawsuits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Sources Used in This Article

King Law used the following sources when writing this article about gabapentin lawsuits. We apply rigorous editorial standards to create content for our visitors.

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