Public awareness and tighter prescribing restrictions linked to decline in pregabalin misuse
Unlike in many other developed countries, rates of pregabalin use and overdose have leveled off and declined in Australia since 2018 following high-profile media coverage of harms, restrictions on prescriptions and supply, and new boxed warnings, finds a study published by The BMJ.
In Australia, use and misuse of the drug pregabalin have leveled off and declined since 2018, according to a study published in The BMJ. Researchers analyzed dispensing claims and poison center data from 2016 to 2024, focusing on three key events: high-profile media coverage of pregabalin harms in December 2018, tighter prescribing restrictions in April 2020, and the introduction of boxed warnings in February 2021.
During this period, 3,441,851 pregabalin prescriptions were dispensed, with a 25% decrease in use compared to projected historical trends. Overdose calls to poison centers also decreased by 47%, with an estimated 41 fewer pregabalin overdose calls in December 2021, compared to expected rates. While the study does not prove causality, it suggests that these measures may be effective in curbing pregabalin misuse.
However, pregabalin use and overdose remain high, with dispensing rates still far exceeding those for approved indications. Experts caution that pregabalin should be reserved for proven conditions like diabetic nerve pain and fibromyalgia, and avoided for less severe issues like low back pain and sciatica.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
