Quantifying Gabapentin Misuse With Opioids

Alyssa M. Peckham, PharmD, BCPP; David A. Sclar, BPharm, PhD

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2019;21(2):18l02386

Article Abstract

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To the Editor: We read with interest the article by Tomko et al, which adds to the large body of previous work documenting an association between gabapentin misuse and opioid misuse. We agree with Tomko et al that regulatory agencies should consider tighter gabapentin regulation, potentially including reclassification as a controlled substance, as our team and other researchers have documented the prevalence and harms associated with gabapentin and opioid coadministration at high dosages. In addition, Tomko et al note that a knowledge gap exists concerning whether high-dose gabapentin signals potential opioid misuse and warrants further investigation.’ ‹

Quantifying Gabapentin Misuse With Opioids

To the Editor: We read with interest the article by Tomko et al,1 which adds to the large body of previous work documenting an association between gabapentin misuse and opioid misuse.2-9 We agree with Tomko et al1 that regulatory agencies should consider tighter gabapentin regulation, potentially including reclassification as a controlled substance,1,10-12 as our team and other researchers have documented the prevalence and harms associated with gabapentin and opioid coadministration at high dosages.7,13-15 In addition, Tomko et al1 note that a knowledge gap exists concerning whether high-dose gabapentin signals potential opioid misuse and warrants further investigation.1 While we agree that this question warrants further investigation, we have explored 2 other predictive models related to combined misuse of gabapentin and opioids that may be of interest.9,16

First, we explored predictors of gabapentin misuse with particular interest paid to a preexisting diagnosis of addiction and concomitant opioid use.9 We found a notable predictor of gabapentin abuse to be the presence of concomitant opioids, especially among those with a diagnosis of addiction.9 This model may be adapted to investigate high-dose gabapentin as a predictor of opioid misuse in outpatient populations.

Additionally, our research team conducted a proof-of-concept study on prescription claims data to predict fraud, waste, or abuse (FWA) via power-law analysis (PLA), comparing this technique with standard Lorenz-curve analysis.16 This model was applied to single medications (eg, use of opioids at baseline was examined using PLA to predict FWA of opioids at follow-up).16 We were able to better detect patients not currently engaging in, but at risk of developing, future FWA for controlled substances (alprazolam and opioids), though the model was less predictive for patients using gabapentin.16 This model, after refinement for noncontrolled substance detection, may be adapted to assess baseline use of high-dose gabapentin as a signal for FWA of opioids at follow-up.

Overall, we commend Tomko et al1 for highlighting the need for further investigation into the potential 2-way relationship between gabapentin misuse and opioid misuse. Gabapentin misuse amid the opioid epidemic poses a significant clinical concern and, if identified as a signal of opioid misuse in outpatients, would allow for earlier clinical intervention, potentially translating to improved clinical outcomes and reduced opioid-related mortality.

References

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9. Peckham AM, Evoy KE, Covvey JR, et al. Predictors of gabapentin overuse with or without concomitant opioids in a commercially insured US population. Pharmacotherapy. 2018;38(4):436-443. PubMed CrossRef

10. Peckham AM, Fairman KA, Sclar DA. Policies to mitigate nonmedical use of prescription medications: how should emerging evidence of gabapentin misuse be addressed? Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2018;17(5):519-523. PubMed CrossRef

11. Peckham AM, Fairman KA, Sclar DA. Call for increased pharmacovigilance of gabapentin. BMJ. 2017;359:j5456. PubMed CrossRef

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13. Peckham AM, Fairman KA, Sclar DA. All-cause and drug-related medical events associated with overuse of gabapentin and/or opioid medications: a retrospective cohort analysis of a commercially insured US population. Drug Saf. 2018;41(2):213-228. PubMed CrossRef

14. Gomes T, Juurlink DN, Antoniou T, et al. Gabapentin, opioids, and the risk of opioid-related death: a population-based nested case-control study. PLoS Med. 2017;14(10):e1002396. PubMed CrossRef

15. Evoy KE, Covvey JR, Peckham AM, et al. Reports of gabapentin and pregabalin abuse, misuse, dependence, or overdose: an analysis of the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) [published online ahead of print June 28, 2018]. Res Social Adm Pharm. CrossRef

16. Fairman KA, Peckham AM, Rucker ML, et al. Use of power-law analysis to predict abuse or diversion of prescribed medications: proof-of-concept mathematical exploration. BMC Res Notes. 2018;11(1):523. PubMed CrossRef

Alyssa M. Peckham, PharmD, BCPPa,b

[email protected]

David A. Sclar, BPharm, PhDc

aSubstance Use Disorders Initiative, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

bSchool of Pharmacy, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts

cDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy-Glendale, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona

Potential conflicts of interest: None.

Funding/support: None.

Published online: March 14, 2019.

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2019;21(2):18l02386

To cite: Peckham AM, Sclar DA. Quantifying gabapentin misuse with opioids. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2019;21(2):18l02386.

To share: https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.18l02386