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Gabapentinoid users are at high risk of dangerous drug interactions
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People were more likely to be hospitalized when taking drugs with benzodiazepines or opioids
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These results suggest that gabapentinoids may not reduce the risk of drug toxicity associated with other drugs.
TUESDAY, April 21, 2026 (Health Day News) – Established People gabapentinoid Painkillers are at a higher risk of dangerous drug interactions if they take other medications, a new study has found.
People double their risk of in-hospital poisoning if benzodiazepines are added to their gabapentinoids, researchers reported April 16. PLOS Medicine.
The researchers found that opioid use with gabapentinoids was associated with a 30% increased risk.
“Our findings do not suggest that gabapentinoids are dangerous or should not be prescribed, but physicians should be cautious when prescribing them, especially if the patient is also taking other medications, and physicians should closely monitor patients taking them,” said the senior researcher. Kenneth Mannpharmacoepidemiologist at University College London, said in a news release.
Gabapentinoids — a class of drugs that includes gabapentin and pregabalin — are widely prescribed to treat epilepsy, nerve pain and anxiety, the researchers said in background notes.
The researchers said these drugs are mostly prescribed for pain relief as an alternative to opioids. They are now the seventh most popular prescription drug in the US; Globally, their use has more than quadrupled between 2008 and 2018.
For the new study, researchers looked at nearly 17,000 people taking gabapentinoid who had been hospitalized at least once for drug poisoning in the UK.
Symptoms of drug poisoning can include loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing or seizures, the researchers said.
The researchers found that nearly 9 out of 10 (89%) patients took opioids along with gabapentinoid at some point, while more than half (55%) took benzodiazepines along with gabapentinoids.
The researchers said the highest risk of drug poisoning was found in the 90 days before people were prescribed gabapentinoids, suggesting that doctors prescribed the drug because of concerns about opiate or benzo use.
“The clinical decision to prescribe gabapentinoids may sometimes be an attempt to reduce the risk of drug toxicity associated with opioids or other drugs,” said the lead researcher. Andrew YuenPhD student at University College London.
“Although the risk of toxicity decreased slightly after initiation of gabapentinoid therapy, they still faced a risk of drug toxicity, indicating that clinicians should be aware of the risks,” he said in a news release.
Whether gabapentinoids can directly cause drug toxicity is unclear, the researchers said. There is evidence that the drug may increase the sedative effects of other drugs, including opioids and benzodiazepines.
More information
The Mayo Clinic has more information gabapentin.
Source: University College London, release, April 16, 2026
What does this mean for you?
People prescribed gabapentinoids should be aware of their potential with other drugs, including opioids and benzodiazepines.
