Trends in Gabapentin Detection and Involvement in Drug Overdose Deaths
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant medication, but is also approved to treat chronic pain. In 2019, 69 million gabapentin prescriptions were dispensed in the US, making is the seventh most commonly prescribed medication nationally. Gabapentin exposures associated with intentional abuse, misuse, or unknown exposures increased by 104% from 2013 to 2017. Most gabapentin-involved overdose deaths occurred among non-Hispanic white persons (83.2%) and persons aged 35-54 years old (52.5%). There was very little difference between the frequency of overdose deaths among men and women.
Mattson, C.L., Chowdhery, F., and Gilson, T. P. (2022). Trends in Gabapentin Detection and Involvement in Drug Overdose Deaths - 23 States and the District of Columbia, 2019-2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 71(19): 664-666. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7119a3.htm?s_cid=mm7119a3_w