January 31, 2016
Two drugs often recommended as safer alternatives to opioid pain medication could face new restrictions in the UK because of increasing reports they are being abused.
British health officials say the prescription drugs pregabalin and gabapentin, which are sold by Pfizer under the brand names Lyrica and Neurontin, are being used by drug abusers to get high, resulting in dozens of overdose deaths.
Since 2012, at least 38 deaths involving pregabalin and 26 involving gabapentin have been reported in the UK.
The prescribing of pregabalin and gabapentin in the UK has soared by 350% and 150%, respectively, in the last five years. *Both medications are anti-seizure drugs widely prescribed to treat epilepsy, neuropathy, fibromyalgia and anxiety.
The UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is recommending that gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) be reclassified as Class C controlled substances – which would mean prescriptions would only be valid for one month and there can be no refills.
http://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stori...k-restrictions
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...and-gabapentin
Two drugs often recommended as safer alternatives to opioid pain medication could face new restrictions in the UK because of increasing reports they are being abused.
British health officials say the prescription drugs pregabalin and gabapentin, which are sold by Pfizer under the brand names Lyrica and Neurontin, are being used by drug abusers to get high, resulting in dozens of overdose deaths.
Since 2012, at least 38 deaths involving pregabalin and 26 involving gabapentin have been reported in the UK.
The prescribing of pregabalin and gabapentin in the UK has soared by 350% and 150%, respectively, in the last five years. *Both medications are anti-seizure drugs widely prescribed to treat epilepsy, neuropathy, fibromyalgia and anxiety.
The UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is recommending that gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) be reclassified as Class C controlled substances – which would mean prescriptions would only be valid for one month and there can be no refills.
http://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stori...k-restrictions
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...and-gabapentin
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