Observational studySubstance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy2026
A hospital-based multi-centric observational study to explore the prevalence and correlates of non-medical use and dependence of pregabalin among the patients with substance use disorder in Punjab & Chandigarh.
Observational study in Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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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.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Dependence on ultra-high doses of gabapentinoids: A case series.Indian journal of psychiatry · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimPregabalin (a Gabapentinoid) has been shown to have potential for non-medical use. We aimed at exploring the prevalence and clinical correlates of non-medical use of pregabalin and dependence in patients seeking treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). MATERIALS AND
methodsPatients with ICD-10 diagnosis for various SUDs, in the age range of 18-70 years who consented for participation in this study were evaluated for non-medical use and dependence of pregabalin across three different regions of Punjab and the union territory of Chandigarh. ICD-10 criteria for a dependence syndrome (three or more criteria) were used for defining dependence on pregabalin.
resultsOut of a total 974 patients enrolled in this study, 44.6% of study participants were using pregabalin and 24.8% fulfilled ICD-10 criteria for a dependence syndrome. Compared to study subjects having non-medical use of pregabalin, a significant number of persons using pregabalin in dependent fashion consumed pregabalin with a frequency of more than 3 times/day (p < 0.001), with daily consumption of pregabalin in doses more than 1200 mg/day (p < 0.001) and suffered from seizures (p < 0.001). Significantly high rates of pregabalin non-medical use and dependence were observed in Sikh patients (p < 0.01), living in rural areas (p < 0.01), who were unmarried/single (p < 0.001), educated more than 10 years (p < 0.01), and with an opioid use disorder (p < 0.001). Pregabalin non-medical use and dependence were also significantly higher in younger patients (p < 0.001), with a younger age of onset of substance use disorder (p = 0.014) and with shorter duration of substance use (p < 0.001). The odds of use of pregabalin were higher in patients with opioid use disorder (aOR = 5.3, 95% CI 3.5-7.9; p < 0.001) in comparison to those with alcohol use disorder.
conclusionThese high estimates for non-medical use and dependence of pregabalin in our study are an early indication of rising problem of pregabalin use amongst the patients with substance use disorders. We draw attention of the healthcare providers and policy makers in formulation of strategies to screen for pregabalin non-medical use and dependence, formulate treatment strategies and devise policy changes to address diversion of pregabalin in view of its non-medical use potential.
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