Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40540060›Full record

ReviewCurrent pain and headache reports2025

Emerging Clinical Roles of Gabapentin and Adverse Effects, Including Weight Gain, Obesity, Depression, Suicidal Thoughts and Increased Risk of Opioid-Related Overdose and Respiratory Depression: A Narrative Review.

Alan D Kaye, Gabrielle Cassagne, Brennan M Abbott, Alexandra M Dubuisson, Jasmine J Fagan, Isabella Indovina, Deniz Gungor, Anusha Kallurkar, Adam M Kaye, Sahar Shekoohi

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Current pain and headache reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. 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

10 authors.

Alan D KayeDepartments of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Neurosciences, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Gabrielle CassagneSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Brennan M AbbottSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Alexandra M DubuissonSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Jasmine J FaganSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Isabella IndovinaSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Deniz GungorDepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Anusha KallurkarDepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Adam M KayeThomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of the Pacific, Stockton, 751 Brookside Road Stockton, CA 95207, USA.
Sahar ShekoohiDepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA. sahar.shekoohi@lsuhs.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purpose of reviewGabapentin, introduced in the 1990s as an anticonvulsant and anti-epileptic drug, has become a cornerstone treatment for various neurological and pain-related conditions. Its approved uses include seizure disorders, postherpetic neuralgia, and restless leg syndrome, while off-label applications commonly include diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and insomnia. The efficacy of gabapentin stems from its ability to modulate voltage-gated calcium channels, reducing excitatory neurotransmitter release in the central nervous system. However, its pharmacological versatility is accompanied by significant risks, including weight gain and combination additive and/or synergistic opioid-related respiratory depression. RECENT

findingsWeight gain, affecting up to 25% of patients, is primarily attributed to secondary effects such as altered gastrointestinal function and peripheral edema. This adverse effect can negatively impact treatment adherence, especially in patients with chronic conditions requiring long-term therapy. Patients with preexisting metabolic disorders face heightened risks, necessitating strategies like dietary counseling and tailored treatment adjustments to mitigate weight gain. In multimodal pain management, gabapentin mediated additive and/or synergistic effects with opioids enable reduced opioid doses but increase the risk of respiratory depression and overdose. These dose-dependent interactions amplify sedative effects, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly. To optimize therapeutic benefits while minimizing risks, healthcare providers must adopt individualized treatment plans, carefully adjust dosages, and educate patients. Further research is essential to better understand mechanisms of action, improve safety profiles, and develop prescribing practices that balance efficacy with reduced adverse outcomes.

Indexed as

AminesAnalgesicsAnalgesics, OpioidAnticonvulsantsDepressionGabapentingamma-Aminobutyric AcidObesityRespiratory InsufficiencySuicidal IdeationWeight GainDrug OverdoseHumansAminesAnalgesicsAnalgesics, OpioidAnticonvulsantsGabapentingamma-Aminobutyric AcidDepressionGabapentinObesityOpioid-related overdosePharmacokineticsRespiratory depressionSuicidal thoughtsWeight gain

Identifiers

PMID40540060

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.