[Off-label use of gabapentinoid drugs: is it necessary a deprescription strategy?]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate gabapentin and pregabalin treatment adequacy to label indications, to analyze off-label use and to identify patients at high risk of respiratory depression.

Method: An observational, retrospective study was performed. It included patients treated with pregabalin and gabapentin during 2020 in Navarre.

Results: A total of 9778 patients were treated with gabapentin or pregabalin during the first two months of 2020. In 56% of the cases, gabapentinoids were prescribed for off-label uses. Sixty percent of patients were taking at least one central nervous system (CNS) depressant drug concomitantly, 33% of them opioids, 20% of them combined opioids with CNS depressants and 4% of them at least one systemic antihistamine. In addition, 11% of the patients had a diagnosis of asthma or COPD. Prevalences remained constant along the year.

Conclusions: It is necessary to implement a gabapentinoid deprescription strategy to improve its use and reduce safety problems.

Keywords: Depresión respiratoria; Gabapentin; Gabapentina; Inappropriate prescribing; Off-label use; Pregabalin; Pregabalina; Prescripción inadecuada; Respiratory depression; Safety; Seguridad; Uso fuera de ficha técnica.