ineffectiveness of gabapentinoids for pain or radiculopathy
there has been a major increase in prescribing gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) for chronic pain and neuropathic pain, despite many studies finding no or minimal effect. there is an impressive list of associated adverse events including very serious ones, however. -- a study done on gabapentinoid utilization in 72 countries from 2012 o 2023 found annual sale increase by 114.5% from 2012 to 2022, with a 180.9% increase in developing countries and a 110.0% increase in developed countries: see graph below from gabapentinoid and opiate utilization 2012 to 2023 Pharmicoepidem2025 in dropbox, or doi.org/10.1002/pds.70149 -- gabapentinoids, however, have substantial side effects like dizziness, somnolence, and gait disturbance, with the number of patients needed to take gabapentinoids in order for one of them to experience adverse effects ranging from 3 to 11 depending on the adverse effect, with approximately 33% of patients experiencing somnolen...
