Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27312320›Full record

ArticleCNS drugs2016

A Decade of Gabapentinoid Misuse: An Analysis of the European Medicines Agency's 'Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions' Database.

Stefania Chiappini, Fabrizio Schifano

Open access · greenAbstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in CNS drugs, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 78 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
78citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
18.8field-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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

78 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 188 citations in OpenAlex.

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  4. Anticonvulsants in the treatment of low back pain and lumbar radicular pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2018
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  17. Pain Medication in Chronic Low Back Pain.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
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18 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Stefania ChiappiniDepartment of Psychiatry, Catholic University School of Medicine, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, Rome, 00168, Italy. stefaniachiappini9@gmail.com.
Fabrizio SchifanoSchool of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic · ITUniversity of Hertfordshire · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe gabapentinoids pregabalin and gabapentin are being increasingly prescribed for a range of clinical conditions. Recently, although gabapentinoids at therapeutic dosages may present with low addictive liability levels, cases of misuse and rising numbers of related fatalities have been reported.

objectivesThe aim of the study was to identify and assess cases of gabapentinoid misuse or dependence as reported to the European Medicines Agency's EudraVigilance database, to identify the magnitude of this problem and the characteristics of these reactions.

methodsAll spontaneous reports of both gabapentin- (2004-2015) and pregabalin- (2006-2015) related misuse/abuse/dependence were retrieved. A descriptive analysis by source, sex, age, and type of report was performed.

resultsFrom the EudraVigilance database 7639 (6.6 % of a total of 115,616) and 4301 (4.8 % of 90,166) adverse drug reaction reports of misuse/abuse/dependence were, respectively, associated with pregabalin and gabapentin, with an overall reporting frequency increasing over time. For both molecules, subjects typically involved were female adults. A total of 27 and 86 fatalities, respectively, associated with pregabalin and gabapentin, and mostly in combination with opioids, were identified. Analysis of proportional reporting ratios for drug abuse/dependence/intentional product misuse values seem to indicate that these adverse drug reactions were more frequently reported for pregabalin (1.25, 1.39, and 1.58, respectively) compared with gabapentin.

conclusionsDespite data collection/methodological approach limitations, the present data seem to suggest that gabapentinoid misuse may be a cause for concern, especially in patients with a history of substance misuse. Hence, healthcare professionals should be vigilant when prescribing these molecules.

Indexed as

Prescription Drug MisuseAdultAminesAnalgesics, OpioidBehavior, AddictiveCyclohexanecarboxylic AcidsDatabases, FactualFemaleGabapentingamma-Aminobutyric AcidHumansMaleMiddle AgedPregabalinSubstance-Related DisordersAminesAnalgesics, OpioidCyclohexanecarboxylic AcidsGabapentingamma-Aminobutyric AcidPregabalin

Identifiers

PMID27312320
OpenAlexW2424370328

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.