In Case You Haven't Heard…

Abstract

Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant, has now been recommended for Schedule V by Public Citizen. In a petition to the Drug Enforcement Administration and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the organization last month called the drug “markedly overprescribed” and said it could lead to dependence and overdose deaths. “Gabapentin has been dangerously unscheduled as a controlled substance for too long despite increasing evidence of abuse and misuse and despite its strong similarity to pregabalin, which has been a Schedule V drug for more than 15 years,” said Michael Abrams, senior health researcher with Public Citizen's Health Research Group and lead author of the petition. Gabapentin is widely prescribed for uses not approved by the FDA — “off‐label” uses — including treatment of alcohol use disorder. Gabapentin, even at recommended doses, can cause neurological adverse events, including dizziness, sleepiness, euphoria and other psychedelic effects, dependence, withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation and addiction, according to Public Citizen. If scheduled, gabapentin would then become yet another medication less available to people whose physicians think they need it. Yet, the potential of harm as the drug has been identified as a contributing factor for opioid overdoses has led to Public Citizen's petition, according to Abrams.