Elevated cholesterol (total) after Gabapentin in dogs

The FDA has received 95 reports of elevated cholesterol (total) in dogs after Gabapentin. That is 1.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

95Reports

81%Marked serious

8.4%Recovered

31%Died or euthanised

31 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

5 7.7%

1–2 days

5 7.7%

3–7 days

5 7.7%

1–4 weeks

16 25%

Over a month

34 52%

How the animals did

Recovered

7 7.4%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.1%

Still unwell when reported

40 42%

Died

9 9.5%

Euthanised

20 21%

Not known

18 19%

Problems reported at the same time

76 80%

45 47%

39 41%

38 40%

34 36%

29 31%

25 26%

18 19%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Gabapentin used for pain and to reduce stress or anxiety.

Questions owners ask

Can Gabapentin cause elevated cholesterol (total) in dogs?: 95 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 31 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Elevated cholesterol (total) with similar medicines

Elevated cholesterol (total) after Selegiline (Anipryl) 29 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Trazodone 28 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Clomipramine (Clomicalm) 30 reports · 2.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Gabapentin in dogs · Medicines most reported with elevated cholesterol (total)