Cohort study of new off-label gabapentin prescribing in chronic opioid users
Authors' conclusion
In this study of patients with chronic opioid use, an off-label gabapentin prescription did not reduce opioid dosage in the majority of patients.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with chronic opioid use with a new off-label gabapentin prescription (2010–2019)
- Participants
- 172,607 patients
- Outcome
- Reduction in opioid dosage (oral morphine equivalents [OME] per day) after addition of new off-label gabapentin
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Change in opioid dosage after new off-label gabapentin
- Decrease in opioid dosage
- 67,016 (38.8%)
- Median oral morphine equivalents (OME)/day reduction
- 13.8
- No change in opioid dosage
- 24,468 (14.2%)
- Increase in opioid dosage
- 81,123 (47.0%)
- Median OME/day increase
- 14.3
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Factors associated with opioid dosage decrease
| aOR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| History of substance/alcohol use disorders | 1.20 (1.16–1.23) | |
| Arthritis | 1.12 (1.09–1.15) | |
| Back pain | 1.10 (1.07–1.12) | |
| Other pain conditions | 1.08 (1.06–1.10) | |
| 0.512Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Cohort study of new off-label gabapentin prescribing in chronic opioid users. Reg Anesth Pain Med. Published 27 June 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →