Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Annals of Internal Medicine, https://doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-25-01750 Dr. Andrea E. Strahan et al.
Points
- Gabapentin is approved for seizures and postherpetic neuralgia but is commonly prescribed off-label for conditions like neuropathic pain.
- Serious breathing difficulties may occur in patients with respiratory conditions or when gabapentin is combined with opioids.
- Gabapentinoid use more than tripled from 2002 to 2015, warranting a look into recent dispensing patterns.
- Since 2016, some states have implemented policy changes, including enrolling gabapentin in prescription drug monitoring programs.
- This study investigates updated gabapentin dispensing trends in the United States between 2010 and 2024.
Summary
This study investigated recent trends in gabapentin prescriptions dispensed in the United States between 2010 and 2024, addressing a gap in understanding post-2015 dispensing patterns. Gabapentin, FDA-approved for partial seizures and postherpetic neuralgia, is widely prescribed off-label, particularly for neuropathic pain. The drug, while infrequently a standalone cause of fatal overdose, poses a risk of serious respiratory depression, especially when co-administered with opioids or in patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions. Previous data indicated a more than threefold increase in gabapentinoid use from 2002 to 2015.
The research aimed to provide an updated quantitative analysis of gabapentin dispensing, considering that several states have implemented policy changes since 2016, such as enrolling gabapentin in prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). Such policy interventions are critical, as the growing off-label use and potential for respiratory adverse events, particularly in vulnerable populations or those on opioid therapy, underscore the importance of monitoring prescribing trends. Understanding these trends is crucial for public health surveillance and informing future policy decisions.
While the abstract provided does not include specific numerical data beyond the historical increase in gabapentinoid use, the study’s objective is to quantify these recent trends, which is paramount for healthcare providers. Such data would inform prescribing practices, highlight potential areas of concern regarding off-label use, and evaluate the impact of state-level policy interventions on gabapentin dispensing. The implications extend to patient safety, particularly concerning the risks of respiratory difficulties in at-risk individuals and those concurrently using opioids.
Link to the article: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-01750
References
Strahan, A. E., Rikard, S. M., Schmit, K., Zhang, K., & Guy, G. P. (2025). Trends in dispensed gabapentin prescriptions in the united states, 2010 to 2024. Annals of Internal Medicine, ANNALS-25-01750. https://doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-25-01750
