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Non-opioid medications such as gabapentin are frequently prescribed for the management of pain.
A retrospective study of the National Poison Data System (data collected by the U.S. Poison Centers) from 2013 – 2017 showed increasing trend of gabapentin exposure.
Gabapentin exposure increased between 2013 and 2017 by:
- Total exposure: 72.3%
- Isolated intentional suicide attempt: 80.5%
- Isolated exposure: 67.1%
- Isolated intentional abuse/misuse: 119.9%
5 most commonly co-ingested substances with gabapentin
- Sedative-hypnotic: 22.9%
- Antidepressant: 12.7%
- Antihypertensive: 9.9%
- Opioid: 9.0%
- Antipsychotics: 6.3%
16.7% of the isolated gabapentin exposure required hospitalization.
Conclusion:
- Gabapentin abuse/misuse and ingestion with self-harm intent is increasing in the U.S.