Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27265421›Full record

SynthesisAddiction (Abingdon, England)2016

Gabapentin misuse, abuse and diversion: a systematic review.

Rachel V Smith, Jennifer R Havens, Sharon L Walsh

Registry-linked trialOpen access · greenAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03334903 (Gabapentin Regimens and Their Effects on Opioid Consumption), which is not on this map. Cited by 160 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
160citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
59.5field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT03334903 phase4completednot on this mapstarted 2018, after this paper: background citation

Gabapentin Regimens and Their Effects on Opioid Consumption

TypeinterventionalSponsorBrigham and Women's HospitalRan2018 to 2019Enrolled77ConditionsKnee Osteoarthritis, Knee Pain Chronic, Opioid Use, Opioid DependenceArmsGabapentin
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

160 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 350 citations in OpenAlex.

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100 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Rachel V SmithCenter on Drug and Alcohol Research, Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
Jennifer R HavensCenter on Drug and Alcohol Research, Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
Sharon L WalshCenter on Drug and Alcohol Research, Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
University of Kentucky · US

Funding

Examining the Impact of the Twin Epidemics of Methamphetamine and Opioid Use on Overdose, Risky Sex and Treatment Engagement among PWUD in Two Rural Appalachian CohortsR01DA033862 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · PI Jennifer R Havens · 2012 to 2026
$6.9M
NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA033862
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsSince its market release, gabapentin has been presumed to have no abuse potential and subsequently has been prescribed widely off-label, despite increasing reports of gabapentin misuse. This review estimates and describes the prevalence and effects of, motivations behind and risk factors for gabapentin misuse, abuse and diversion.

methodsDatabases were searched for peer-reviewed papers demonstrating gabapentin misuse, characterized by taking a larger dosage than prescribed or taking gabapentin without a prescription, and diversion. All types of studies were considered; grey literature was excluded. Thirty-three papers met inclusion criteria, consisting of 23 case studies and 11 epidemiological reports. Published reports came from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, India, South Africa and France, and two analyzed websites not specific to a particular country.

resultsPrevalence of gabapentin misuse in the general population was reported to be 1%, 40-65% among individuals with prescriptions and between 15 and 22% within populations of people who abuse opioids. An array of subjective experiences reminiscent of opioids, benzodiazepines and psychedelics were reported over a range of doses, including those within clinical recommendations. Gabapentin was misused primarily for recreational purposes, self-medication or intentional self-harm and was misused alone or in combination with other substances, especially opioids, benzodiazepines and/or alcohol. Individuals with histories of drug abuse were most often involved in its misuse.

conclusionsEpidemiological and case report evidence suggests that the anti-epileptic and analgesic medication gabapentin is being misused internationally, with substance abuse populations at special risk for misuse/abuse.

Indexed as

AminesAnalgesicsCyclohexanecarboxylic Acidsgamma-Aminobutyric AcidGabapentinHumansPrescription Drug DiversionPrescription Drug MisusePrevalenceSubstance-Related DisordersAminesAnalgesicsCyclohexanecarboxylic AcidsGabapentingamma-Aminobutyric AcidDiversiongabapentinprescription drug misusesubstance abusesystematic review

Identifiers

PMID27265421
PMCPMC5573873
OpenAlexW2273108584

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.