A case report published in 1997 reports a 42 year old woman who was dependent on crack cocaine, and when she would go through withdrawal, she used her husband’s gabapentin. In cases in which gabapentin was determined to be a cause of death, the blood concentrations ranged from 1.1 to 134.0 mg/L. Persons who died of a gabapentin-related drug death were prescribed the drug legitimately 91.4% of the time, with 84.2% of those also having a known prior history of abuse or misuse of prescription medications. Gabapentin and pregabalin are commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of seizure disorders, neuropathic pain (eg, postherpetic neuralgia), fibromyalgia, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and restless leg syndrome. Gabapentinoids are commonly ingested in self-harm attempts and often misused for their sedative and euphoric Gabapentin is an antiepileptic drug that is prescribed for both FDA-approved and multiple off-label conditions, and has a relatively safe side-effect profile. Rare cases of overdose-related adverse effects have been reported in the literature. Described herein are the circumstances and autopsy findi In a study of 104 forensic autopsy cases in the USA where gabapentin had been detected post-mortem, gabapentin was considered to be directly involved in the death in nearly half of the cases (47%) . The drug was prescribed legitimately to 91% of the individuals whose death was gabapentin related, and 84% had a known history of prescription drug Postmortem toxicology tests detected gabapentin in almost 1 in 10 US overdose deaths between 2019 and 2020. In about half of the cases, a medical examiner or coroner ruled the drug was a cause of the death, according to a report from the CDC’s Division of Overdose Prevention. A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that between 2019 and 2020, coroners and medical examiners detected gabapentin in 5687, or almost 10%, of the 58 362 overdose deaths in 23 states and the District of Columbia that had available toxicology results. Cases involving gabapentin only were evaluated. Results: There were 20 cases with gabapentin as the sole substance in doses ranging from 50 mg to 35 g. Ten of the 20 cases involved children and adolescents. A gabapentin overdose is rare, but it is possible. The likelihood of an overdose increases when you abuse gabapentin with other drugs like opioids and alcohol. If you or someone you know is experiencing a gabapentin overdose, seek medical help immediately. So far, there have been only two peer-reviewed case reports of death[1][2]from gabapentin toxicity (related to gabapentin overdose). Despite this low statistic, gabapentin abuse as a suicide attempt has risen over the years . Common symptoms of gabapentin overdose are drowsiness, fast heartbeat, dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, and impaired coordination. In severe cases, lethargy, coma, and death may occur. If someone takes too much gabapentin or takes gabapentin by accident, get guidance from Poison Control immediately. Anyone who shows signs of an overdose or allergic reaction to gabapentin should contact emergency medical services immediately. Left untreated, these symptoms can turn fatal. Klein-Schwartz W, Shepherd JG, Gorman S et al. Characterization of gabapentin overdose using a poison center case series. Journal of Toxicology-Clinical Toxicology 2003; 41(1):11-15. Lofton AL, Klein-Schwartz W. Evaluation of lamotrigine toxicity reported to poison centers. In these cases, gabapentin was noted to cause tremors, altered mental status, and respiratory depression requiring intubation. 10 Rhabdomyolysis is an extremely rare adverse effect of gabapentin. Our case of rhabdomyolysis caused by gabapentin overdose abuse is the first case to our knowledge. Critical Interventions in Gabapentin Overdose Cases. Immediate medical attention is crucial in the event of a Gabapentin overdose to mitigate serious health risks and potential complications. Gabapentin toxicity, although rare, requires prompt attention, and the primary treatment involves supportive care strategies. Gabapentin is generally safe and non-toxic, although there have been several published case reports of adverse effects with gabapentin including severe myopathy, severe myoclonus, neutropenia, hypoglycaemia episodes and altered consciousness. 3 The recommended dose of gabapentin in patients with creatinine clearance >60 ml/min is 1200 mg/day “Between 2019 and 2020, Gabapentin was detected in nearly 10% of overdose deaths across 23 states and the District of Columbia. More alarmingly, in over half of these cases, Gabapentin was determined to be a direct contributor to the fatality.” decedents remained largely similar. Most gabapentin-involved overdose deaths occurred among non-Hispanic White persons (83.2%) and persons aged 35–54 years (52.2%); gabapentin-involved overdose deaths occurred with approximately equal frequency among men (49.7%) and women (50.3%). During the second quarter of 2020, the number of deaths In several case reports, the dangers of gabapentin abuse are apparent and potential for severe and potentially deadly withdrawal is clear. Pittenger and Desan [8] reported two cases of gabapentin withdrawal, leading to delirium tremens, which only subsided fully after gabapentin was resumed. Signs and Symptoms of Gabapentin Overdose. A gabapentin overdose can be dangerous or even deadly. Some factors can increase the risk of a fatal overdose, such as taking several substances at once. Gabapentin overdose symptoms can include: Drowsiness; Movement difficulties; Dizziness; Nausea or vomiting; Rapid heartbeat; Low blood pressure
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