We recently had a paper published in PAIN journal which was picked up by Medscape.

An extract from our press release and a link to the Medscape article is below.

Patients prescribed gabapentinoids at increased risk of drug misuse or overdose, researchers find.

Keele researchers found that patients prescribed gabapentinoids were at greater risk of ‘adverse events’ such as drug misuse, overdose, and major trauma such as a bone fracture or head injury. 

Gabapentinoids such as gabapentin and pregabalin are anticonvulsant drugs that are approved in the United Kingdom and EU to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and, in the case of pregabalin, generalised anxiety disorder. 

The researchers looked at anonymised GP records to compare rates of adverse events in patients who were prescribed gabapentin or pregabalin therapeutically by their doctor, with those who were not. 

Adverse events in patients prescribed gabapentinoids were more likely if they were a smoker, had a history of substance misuse, overdose, or a mental health condition, and if they were also prescribed other drugs that affect the central nervous system.

To find out more visit: https://www.medscape.co.uk/viewarticle/study-more-caution-required-when-prescribing-gabapentinoids-2024a100089m