Key Takeaways

A painkiller could be tricking doctors into misdiagnosing heart failure

Gabapentinioids cause fluid retention, leading to swelling in the legs and feet

Many doctors chalked this side effect up to more dire conditions like heart failure

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A painkiller alternative to opioids could be tricking doctors into misdiagnosing heart failure, a new study warns.

Drugs like gabapentin and pregabalin are frequently prescribed to treat nerve pain, researchers said.

But a side effect of these drugs is fluid retention, causing a person’s legs and feet to swell.

Unfortunately, that's also a well-known symptom of heart failure.

As a result, many patients with this side effect are prescribed unnecessary additional medications like diuretics, i

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