Concurrent Gabapentin and Opioid Use and Risk of Mortality in Medicare Recipients with Non-Cancer Pain.

ABSTRACT: Gabapentin is prescribed for pain and is perceived as safe generally. However, gabapentin can cause respiratory depression, exacerbated by concomitant central nervous system depressants (e.g., opioids), a concern for vulnerable populations. We compared mortality rates among new users of either gabapentin or duloxetine with or without concurrent opioids in the 20% Medicare sample. We conducted a new-user design retrospective cohort study, in Medicare enrollees ages 65-89 years with noncancer chronic pain and no severe illness who filled prescriptions between 2015 and 2018 for gabapentin (n = 233,060) or duloxetine (n = 34,009). Daily opioid doses, estimated in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), were classified into none, low (0 < MME < 50), and high (≥ 50 MME), based on Centers for Dise

SUBMITTER: Corriere MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10592148 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature