Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 21, 2026
07:16
Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission
Published on: August 16, 2018
14.3K
How addictive are gabapentin and pregabalin? A systematic review
1Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatic Medicine, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Castrop-Rauxel, Academic Teaching Hospital of the University of Duisburg-Essen, Grutholzallee 21, D-44577 Castrop-Rauxel, Germany; LVR-Hospital Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, D-45147 Essen, Germany.
Summary
Gabapentinoids show limited addictive potential, with pregabalin being slightly more addictive than gabapentin. Caution is advised for patients with a history of substance use disorders.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Gabapentin and pregabalin (gabapentinoids) are widely dispensed, raising concerns about abuse potential and overdose fatalities.
- Pharmacovigilance databases have issued warnings regarding the risks associated with these drugs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and evaluate the addiction risk of gabapentinoids.
- To compare the addictive properties of gabapentin and pregabalin.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 106 studies indexed in PubMed/Scopus.
- Analysis of rewarding properties, relapse rates, behavioral dependence, and overdose data.
Main Results:
- Limited evidence for vigorous addictive power of gabapentinoids, with few cases of dependence in patients without prior abuse history.
- Pregabalin showed a slightly higher addiction risk than gabapentin concerning dependence symptoms and self-administration.
- Patients with a history of substance use disorders (SUD), particularly opioid and multi-drug users, are at higher risk.
- Pure gabapentinoid overdoses are relatively safe, but combinations with other substances (e.g., opioids, sedatives) can be lethal, with pregabalin posing a greater risk.
Conclusions:
- Gabapentinoids exhibit a lower addiction risk compared to traditional psychoactive substances.
- In patients with a history of SUD, gabapentinoids should be avoided or used with strict monitoring and caution.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
1.5K
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
1.5K
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
829
Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
829
01:14Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
1.1K
Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
1.1K
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
1.0K
Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
1.0K
01:27CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
1.4K
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
1.4K
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
2.2K
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
2.2K