Gabapentin Prescriptions Could Be Leading to Growing Abuse Epidemic: Study

As more individuals are prescribed gabapentin for pain relief, fears are growing that misuse could lead to another addiction epidemic, mirroring the opioid crisis.

New research highlights growing signs of gabapentin misuse, with some patients saying they use it to enhance other drugs, replace opioids or cope with psychological stress when other care options are not available.

According to findings published in the European Journal of Pain on September 2, a global rise in gabapentin prescriptions for pain has corresponded with increases in reports of misuse and dependence on the drug, which could mirror and further contribute to the existing opioid crisis.

Gabapentin is a prescription medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as anticonvulsants, which are used primarily to help control partial seizures and treat nerve pains. However, due to the drug’s calming effects, it is also used “off-label” for other conditions, including anxiety, alcohol withdrawal and hot flashes associated with menopause.

In recent years, some groups have called for gabapentin’s classification as a controlled substance, as health experts warn that users often take the medication to get high or use it to increase the effects of opioids. Both forms of abuse can lead to increased rates of addiction and overdose, posing serious risks of respiratory depression and death for the user.

In the new study, Australian researchers searched six online databases to help them explore various professional views on misuse or dependence on gabapentin and other gabapentinoids.

Led by Amy G. McNeilage, the research team analyzed 19 original studies from Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa, which were primarily conducted in substance use treatment centers or law enforcement settings, focusing on vulnerable populations with a history of gabapentin misuse.

Signs of misuse that were looked at in the literature were early prescription refills, escalating dosages and patient reluctance to slow or stop use of the drug, leading to ethical dilemmas among medical professionals in prescribing and dispensing the drug.

Among the reviews, reasons reported for misuse of gabapentin included using it with other drugs, needing an opioid substitute, coping with various psychological stressors and a lack of access to other kinds of non-pharmacological care.

“Gabapentinoid misuse is shaped by clinical, social and structural factors. Tackling these challenges requires systemic responses that go beyond individual prescribers. Lessons from opioid policy responses should inform balanced, compassionate and evidence-informed strategies to reduce harm and improve care.”

— Amy G. McNeilage, Healthcare Practitioner and Other Professionals’ Perspectives on Gabapentinoid Misuse and Dependence: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

To help reduce gabapentin’s public harm, doctors and other healthcare professionals recommend better prescriber education, regulatory reforms, more treatment access and better public awareness of the dangers gabapentin may pose.

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