Gabapentinoid Use Has More Than Tripled in the U.S. Since 2002

Gabapentin and pregabalin are approved for treating patients with several specific neurological and neuropathic conditions (e.g., gabapentin and pregabalin for partial seizures and postherpetic neuralgia; pregabalin for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and fibromyalgia). Off-label use of these gabapentinoids has risen markedly, with unclear benefit (N Engl J Med 2017; 377:411). In this study, a national health and medical care survey database was used to examine chronic conditions and prescription medication use in about 350,000 community-living adults from 2002 through 2015.

The proportion of participants who used gabapentinoids rose from 1.2% in 2002 to 3.9% in 2015. Increases in use occurred mostly after 2008 and were attributable mainly to…