There has been a significant increase in deaths associated with pregabalin, a commonly prescribed anti-anxiety drug. In 2018, there were 187 pregabalin-related deaths in England and Wales; more than twice In 2022, there were 441 deaths related to the drug.
Recent reports indicate that these deaths areAmerica’s Opioid Epidemic“It’s caused by a certain drug.”destroy life“.This is not a fair comparison. hundreds of thousands of people of Americans have died from opioids. These reports may only cause undue panic about the drug, especially among people who are prescribed it.
Pregabalin (also known by the brand names Lyrica and Alzain) is used to treat a variety of health conditions, including epilepsy, nerve pain, and anxiety.The medicine is first approved for use in Europe and America in 2004.
Pregabalin is Challenging characteristicsIt can create a feeling of. euphoria, tranquility, relaxation. These effects may explain why even people without a prescription seek pregabalin.
Pregabalin itself is not usually dangerous, but like any drug, it does have some dangerous risks. potential side effects – including confusion and headaches.You can also carry risk of dependenceespecially when taken long-term.
However, pregabalin can be dangerous because Was it used as specified?when taken in parallel. other drugs That it has a negative effect.
Pregabalin should ideally be avoided with other opioids, certain sleep aids, benzodiazepines (another type of anti-anxiety medication), muscle relaxants, and even certain diabetes and epilepsy medications. Most deaths caused by pregabalin are due to interactions with other drugs that lead to respiratory depression.
analysis of Pregabalin deaths in the UK Studies from 2004 to 2020 show that the presence of other opioids (including methadone and morphine) was detected in more than 90% of deaths. However, these opioids were actually prescribed to the person in only a quarter of the cases. This suggests that people were probably obtaining these drugs through illegal means rather than through doctors. Similarly, it is unclear from the data whether pregabalin was prescribed or whether pregabalin was obtained without a prescription.
Although this data is from 2020, the situation may be similar for recent deaths associated with pregabulin.
number of deaths
The recent increase in pregablin deaths has partially coincided with an increase in the number of people prescribed this drug. In the UK alone, 8.4 million prescriptions This is up from 5.5 million people in 2016.
This may suggest that more support should be provided to reduce patient risk, especially regarding concomitant use of other drugs.Both prescriber and patient need to be educated About the potential risks of pregabalin use – including Possibility of dependence. Patients and prescribers should also be aware of the drugs with which pregabalin interacts and the effects of the combination.
Prescribers must also: Review regularly Pregabalin prescription to ensure patient safety benefit from it. If not, we recommend other treatments. psychotherapyIt may be more appropriate for people taking medication for anxiety.
However, given the profile of drugs involved in pregabalin-related deaths to date, it is clear that drug education alone is not sufficient.
Certain groups may be at higher risk of harm from pregabalin. For example, people with a history of substance use disorders have high levels of: co-occur If you have a mental health problem, pregabalin may be prescribed as a short-term treatment for anxiety.
However, mental health and drug treatment support typically various servicesA lack of communication between these services means that one service may not always be fully aware of what drugs the other is prescribing, potentially leading to: may lead to. Adverse drug interactions.
Evidence also suggests that illegal pregabalin use is dangerous. growing problem both in Europe and North America.the Available as a street drug This may mean that users are unaware of the risks of using pregabalin with other drugs, such as methadone, a synthetic opiate.
The fear of negative consequences is further compounded. If a person prescribed Pregabalin is using illegal drugs, they cannot tell their doctor. People who use illicit opioids less frequently (e.g., recreationally, to self-medicate pain or mental health problems) also increased risk.
Evidence also shows that more people are living in this area. northern england Pregabalin is prescribed compared to people living in the South. Other studies have also shown the following link: Social deprivation and drug prescription – People living in more deprived areas of the UK are prescribed drugs such as pregabalin at higher rates. People living in poorer areas may not have access to the support they need, including help with knowing the risks of harm from taking or using certain drugs.
Understanding exactly why these deaths occur is important for developing strategies to reduce drug harm and death. Simply discontinuing pregabalin does not seem practical or safe. useful and effective medicine that many people are benefiting from it. Imposing stricter regulations on illegal pregabalin would also be impractical and could even cause greater harm. This is exactly what happened after pregabalin was regulated. Class C drug In 2019.
Understanding why people use pregabalin with other drugs, whether prescribed or not, is critical to making sense.
ian hamiltonFaculty of Health Sciences Honorary Fellow york university and harry sumnallProfessor of Substance Use Studies; Liverpool John Moores University
This article is republished from conversation Under Creative Commons License.read Original work.
