Combined Gabapentinoid and Opioid Use
Authors: Alyssa M. Peckham, David A. Sclar
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2019)

Letters18 June 2019Combined Gabapentinoid and Opioid UseAlyssa M. Peckham, PharmD, BCPP and David A. Sclar, BPharm, PhDAlyssa M. Peckham, PharmD, BCPPNortheastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.P.)Search for more papers by this author and David A. Sclar, BPharm, PhDMidwestern University, Glendale, Arizona (D.A.S.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L19-0155 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Throckmorton and Woodcock's editorial (1) calls attention to the increase in prescribing of nonopioid analgesics, specifically gabapentinoids. The authors also discuss the potential for unintended economic and clinical consequences due to increasing rates of misuse and abuse of these agents. They focus on the increase in prescribing gabapentinoids for painful conditions that often are not included in the indications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This aspect of the prescribing trend is important; however, it is critical to recognize that there are many non–pain-related indications and off-label uses for these agents, either alone or in ...References1. Throckmorton DC, Woodcock J. Combined gabapentinoid and opioid use: the consequences of shifting prescribing trends. Ann Intern Med. 2018;169:727-8. [PMID: 30140901]. doi:10.7326/M18-2175 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Peckham AM, Evoy KE, Ochs L, et al. Gabapentin for off-label use: evidence-based or cause for concern? Subst Abuse. 2018;12:1178221818801311. [PMID: 30262984] doi:10.1177/1178221818801311 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Peckham AM, Fairman KA, Sclar DA. Prevalence of gabapentin abuse: comparison with agents with known abuse potential in a commercially insured US population. Clin Drug Investig. 2017;37:763-73. [PMID: 28451875] doi:10.1007/s40261-017-0530-3 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Gomes T, Juurlink DN, Antoniou T, et al. Gabapentin, opioids, and the risk of opioid-related death: a population-based nested case-control study. PLoS Med. 2017;14:e1002396. [PMID: 28972983] doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002396 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Peckham AM, Ananickal MJ, Sclar DA. Gabapentin use, abuse, and the US opioid epidemic: the case for reclassification as a controlled substance and the need for pharmacovigilance. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2018;11:109-16. [PMID: 30154674] doi:10.2147/RMHP.S168504 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.P.)Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona (D.A.S.)Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L19-0155. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoCombined Gabapentinoid and Opioid Use: The Consequences of Shifting Prescribing Trends Douglas C. Throckmorton and Janet Woodcock Metrics Cited byFactors Associated with Gabapentin Misuse among People Who Inject Drugs in Appalachian Kentucky 18 June 2019Volume 170, Issue 12Page: 908-909KeywordsAnalgesicsConflicts of interestDisclosureDrug safetyFood and Drug AdministrationNeurologyOpioid addictionOpioidsSleepTherapeutic drug monitoring ePublished: 18 June 2019 Issue Published: 18 June 2019 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2019 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...