Consumption pattern of gabapentinoids in a tertiary health-care system: a five year study from 2012-2017

Abstract

Background: Treating chronic pain has always been a great challenge for the treating physician. As the available pharmacotherapy do not always yield desired results, wider armamentarium is needed in tackling the chronic pain. Hence gabapentinoids are often considered, but it has led to widespread off label use of these groups of medications. Hence a study of consumption pattern was carried out to assess the usage of gabapentinoids.Methods: The consumption pattern of gabapentinoids (gabapentin/ pregabalin/ any combination) was recorded from the medical stores and dispensary of tertiary care teaching hospital.Results: There is an upward trend in the usage of all gabapentinoids between 2012 to 2017 and pregabalin was seen to be the commonly used gabapentinoid. In the recent years apart from individual gabapentinoids there is a trend favoring use of FDCs of gabapentinoids with nortryptyline and methylcobalamine.Conclusions: The increase in the usage pattern should alarm us to look into the off label uses of gabapentinoids. As there is a possibility of abuse and misuse of gabapentinoids clear guidelines regarding the same is the need of the hour.