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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

Suicide by gabapentin overdose.

Owen Middleton¹

¹Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, 530 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA. owen.middleton@co.hennepin.mn.us

Journal of Forensic Sciences

|May 11, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study reports the first known death solely caused by gabapentin toxicity. A 62-year-old woman died after intentionally ingesting excess gabapentin, with autopsy confirming high drug levels.

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Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

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Published on: May 16, 2019

Modeling Neuronal Death and Degeneration in Mouse Primary Cerebellar Granule Neurons

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Published on: November 6, 2017

Area of Science:

Pharmacology
Toxicology
Forensic Medicine

Background:

Gabapentin is an antiepileptic medication with a generally favorable safety profile.
It is prescribed for FDA-approved and various off-label indications.
Adverse effects from gabapentin overdose are rare but documented.

Observation:

The case involves a 62-year-old female with a history of depression.
The death was attributed to intentional overdose of gabapentin.
Autopsy revealed a postmortem peripheral blood gabapentin concentration of 88 μg/mL.

Findings:

High-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry confirmed the gabapentin concentration.
This case is compared with previously reported non-fatal gabapentin overdoses.
This is the first reported fatality attributed exclusively to gabapentin toxicity in the literature.

Implications:

Highlights the potential for severe toxicity even with drugs considered relatively safe.
Underscores the importance of monitoring gabapentin dosage, especially in patients with psychiatric comorbidities.
Contributes to the understanding of gabapentin overdose dynamics and forensic toxicology.