This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing gabapentinoids and examining the use, effectiveness, and toxicological considerations surrounding gabapentin and pregabalin.

Originally developed as anti-epileptic medications, gabapentinoids have become widely used for the treatment of neuropathic pain and a range of other conditions. We begin by examining prescribing trends and discussing the evidence surrounding their effectiveness, including whether these drugs are as beneficial as once thought in all patient groups.

We then explore some of the adverse effects associated with gabapentinoids and discuss the risks associated with their use alongside other central nervous system depressants, including opioids and benzodiazepines.

Finally, we turn to the forensic and toxicological aspects of gabapentinoid use, examining their involvement in driving under the influence of drugs cases and post-mortem investigations. We discuss what these findings tell us about the increasing prevalence of gabapentinoids and their role in drug-related deaths.

Join us as we examine the benefits, limitations, and toxicological considerations surrounding gabapentin and pregabalin, and consider what their growing use means for patients and healthcare systems.

Hope you enjoy!

Links to the papers we discussed:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11626918/

https://shmpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jhm.70286

https://academic.oup.com/jat/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jat/bkag040/8703238?redirectedFrom=fulltext

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037907382100150X?via%3Dihub

Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.

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