Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38273137›Full record

ArticleCNS drugs2024

Trends in Pregabalin Use and Prescribing Patterns in the Adult Population: A 10-Year Pharmacoepidemiologic Study.

Nofar Benassayag Kaduri, Reuven Dressler, Wiessam Abu Ahmad, Victoria Rotshild

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in CNS drugs, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
4.3field-weighted citation impact, top 6% 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

8 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Patterns of pregabalin misuse: Need for intervention.The Indian journal of medical research · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Letter to the Editor: On Patient Safety: It Is Time to Rethink Gabapentin.Clinical orthopaedics and related research · 2025
    Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
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

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Nofar Benassayag KaduriDivision of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. Nofar.benassayag@mail.huji.ac.il.
Reuven DresslerJerusalem District, Clalit Health Services, Jerusalem, Israel.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-6015-9618
Wiessam Abu AhmadSchool of Public Health, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Victoria RotshildDivision of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4365-4528
Hebrew University of Jerusalem · ILClalit Health Services · IL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivePregabalin is steadily gaining popularity worldwide, with epidemiological studies indicating an increase in labeled, off-labeled, and recreational uses. In Israel, pregabalin prescriptions are not regulated by the controlled substances legislations, prompting a need to examine its usage trends for potential policy adjustments. The objective of this study was to assess trends in pregabalin prescribing during a 10-year period, to characterize demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals prescribed pregabalin, and to identify risk factors associated with high-intensity pregabalin use.

methodsThis retrospective, longitudinal study examined trends in pregabalin prescribing from 2010 to 2019 based on data extracted from the Clalit Health Services (CHS) electronic database. Annual pregabalin prescribing rate was calculated individually for each reporting year. A univariable analysis was conducted to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of pregabalin users in 2019 with those in 2010. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to assess dose-related patterns by specific demographic and clinical characteristics.

resultsPregabalin prescription rate more than doubled over 10 years [odds ratio (OR) 2.3, p = 0.001], reaching 7.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.18-7.28] prescriptions per 100 CHS members in 2019. The highest prescription rates were observed among the elderly population (13.2 and 24.1 prescriptions per 100 CHS members for those aged 55-74 and over 75 years old, respectively). Same-year administration of pregabalin with opioids, benzodiazepines, and Z-drugs was common; however, the percentage of patients using these drugs together declined in 2019 compared with 2010 (p < 0.001). Males, patients with low socioeconomic status, patients aged 35-54 years, and those who consumed opioids, benzodiazepines, and Z-drugs received higher pregabalin doses.

conclusionPregabalin use has increased significantly in the Israeli adult-based CHS population, consistent with worldwide data. A growing use over time may indicate overprescription. More studies are needed on misuse patterns to identify populations most susceptible to high-dose and high-intensity pregabalin use.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidBenzodiazepinesAdultAgedHumansLongitudinal StudiesMalePractice Patterns, Physicians'PregabalinRetrospective StudiesAnalgesics, OpioidBenzodiazepinesPregabalin

Identifiers

PMID38273137
PMCPMC10881619
OpenAlexW4391218145

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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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.