Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
Gabapentin and Opioid Prescribing Trends among Adolescents Undergoing Common Procedures: A National Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
Gabapentin dispensing increased over time, and more than one third of adolescents were dispensed a refill prescription. Coprescription with opioids did not appear to be associated with decreased opioid quantity in the initial prescription or decreased likelihood of obtaining a refill opioid prescription after undergoing a study procedure. In addition, opioids were often prescribed when they were unlikely to be needed for postoperative pain management.
Study context
- Population
- Gabapentin- and opioid-naive adolescents 11 to 21 yr old undergoing seven common procedures or procedures associated with postoperative persistent opioid use, 2012–202258,139 filled a prescription
- Participants
- 181,225 participants
- Exposure
- Opioid and gabapentin vs opioid-only prescriptions
- Gabapentinn = 662
- Opioidn = 56,210reference
- Bothn = 1,267
- Outcome
- Perioperative gabapentin and opioid prescribing trends over time (initial prescriptions, refills within 60 days, days and pills dispensed)
Methodological detailsnational private insurance claims database, multivariable logistic regression
- National private insurance claims database
- Multivariable logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
New prescription for gabapentin, opioid or both
- Filled a new prescription for one or both
- 32.1%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Opioid | Both | Adjusted probability difference (%) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid refill · within 60 daysBoth vs Opioid | 21.6% | 40.7% | 14 (11.0–16.8) | |
| −1001020Difference, % (linear scale) |
Initial gabapentin prescriptions
- Supply, mean ± SD (days)
- 22.0 ± 15.0
- Initial daily dose 600 mg or greater
- 55.3%
- One or more refills
- 36.5%
Original publication
Gabapentin and Opioid Prescribing Trends among Adolescents Undergoing Common Procedures: A National Retrospective Cohort Study. Anesthesiology. Published 6 April 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →