If you are 65 years of age or older and/or have a condition that affects your lungs, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is an increased risk for breathing problems. Watch for increased sleepiness or decreased breathing when you start taking gabapentin or when the dose is increased. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Individuals with COPD have compromised lung function, making them particularly susceptible to the respiratory depressant effects of gabapentin. Other Lung Conditions: Any condition that reduces lung function, including asthma, bronchitis, or interstitial lung disease, can heighten the risk. Montreal—A new cohort study has identified an association between use of gabapentinoids and an increased risk of severe exacerbation in patients with COPD. The SmPCs for gabapentin and pregabalin include respiratory problems under ‘undesirable effects’; however, as the authors say, there are no recommendations to apply this to practice. This applies in all countries, particularly post-industrial societies. Use of gabapentinoids (gabapentin, pregabalin) by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was associated with a 39% increased risk for severe disease exacerbation, according to investigators from McGill University and Lady Davis Institute for Medial Research in Montreal, Canada. Despite its common use, there are risks linked to gabapentin. People with lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who take the drug can experience serious Neurology > General Neurology FDA Warns of Breathing Problems With Gabapentinoids — Updated labeling for gabapentin, pregabalin, and new trials required. by Judy George, Senior Staff Writer By Kelly Young. Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH. Gabapentin and pregabalin may cause serious breathing problems in patients who have respiratory risk factors, such as using opioids or other central nervous system depressants, having an underlying respiratory condition like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or being elderly, according to a safety update from the FDA. Gabapentinoid use, namely gabapentin and pregabalin, was associated with increased risk for severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation in patients with Gabapentinoids are associated with an increased risk of severe exacerbation in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a study of more than 10 000 people has reported. 1 Taking gabapentin or pregabalin with opioids, anxiety meds or antidepressants, or if you have lung issues or are elderly, can lead to serious breathing problems. Watch for breathing issues Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use gabapentinoids for epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and other chronic pain have an increased risk for severe COPD exacerbations, researchers reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine. 11. Can gabapentin affect heart rate as a breathing problem? Yes, a fast heart rate (tachycardia) can be a symptom of respiratory depression or other serious side effects of gabapentin, such as pulmonary embolism or heart failure, and would require medical attention. 12. Can gabapentin cause wheezing? A population-based cohort study of more than 10,000 persons using gabapentinoids found that their use was associated with an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation. We are concerned about the number of patients we have seen with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations who have been prescribed sedative medications. Asthma and COPD are obstructive lung diseases that, especially in the case of asthma, can be difficult to diagnose accurately. The main complications of obstructive lung disease are exacerbations—ie, episodes of If you are 65 years of age or older and/or have a condition that affects your lungs, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is an increased risk for breathing problems. Watch for increased sleepiness or decreased breathing when you start taking gabapentin or when the dose is increased. Listen to an audio podcast of the December 19, 2019 FDA Drug Safety Communication warning that serious breathing difficulties may occur in patients using seizure and nerve pain medicines For individuals with COPD, this can lead to more severe symptoms and potential complications. It’s generally recommended that COPD patients opt for second-generation antihistamines, like loratadine (Claritin) or cetirizine (Zyrtec), which have fewer side effects related to respiratory function. Examples: Diphenhydramine (Benadryl Gabapentinoid use was associated with significantly higher risk for severe COPD exacerbations requiring hospitalization (15.1% vs. 8.3% annually; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.4). Compared with nonuse, gabapentinoid use was associated with increased risk for severe COPD exacerbation across the indications of epilepsy (HR, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.08 to 2.30]), neuropathic pain (HR, 1.35 [CI, 1.24 to 1.48]), and other chronic pain (HR, 1.49 [CI, 1.27 to 1.73]) and overall (HR, 1.39 [CI, 1.29 to 1.50]).
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