Adverse Effects of Concomitant Gabapentinoids and Opioids for Postoperative Pain Management

Gabapentinoids often are used for pain management to reduce the amount of opioids prescribed postoperatively, despite concern about complications of concomitant administration, including respiratory depression and possible opioid overdose. Researchers explored these risks in a retrospective cohort study of surgical patients who received various regimens to manage postoperative pain. More than 785,000 U.S. patients who received concomitant gabapentinoids and opioids were matched with 3 million patients who received opioids alone on a wide range of clinical and demographic variables. Follow-up continued until discharge or for 30 days.

The primary outcome, opioid overdose, was about twice as common in the combined group as in the opioids-alone …