Hdl Handle:
http://hdl.handle.net/10147/597129
Title:
Pregabalin abuse amongst opioid substitution treatment patients
Authors:
McNamara, S; Stokes, S; Kilduff, R; Shine, A
Publisher:
Irish Medical Journal
Journal:
Irish Medical Journal
Issue Date:
Dec-2015
URI:
http://hdl.handle.net/10147/597129
Item Type:
Article
Language:
en
Description:
Pregabalin (Lyricafi) is used in treating epilepsy, nerve pain and anxiety. Pregabalin was initially thought to have a low misuse potential however there are emerging reports of Pregabalin being abused. A study was commenced at the National Drug Treatment Centreâ s (NDTC) Drug Analysis Laboratory to determine the level of usage of Pregabalin within the addiction services population in Ireland. A total of 498 urine samples representing samples from 440 individual opioid substitution patients, initially screened by immunoassay for drugs of abuse, were subjected to further analysis for Pregabalin by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS). Of 440 patients tested, 39 tested positive for Pregabalin (9.2%). Only 10 patients from this group were prescribed this drug to our knowledge thus giving an estimated rate of misuse of 7.0%. Other drugs detected in the Pregabalin positive patients were Opiates (31.8%), Cocaine (11.4%), Benzodiazepines (79.5%) and Cannabis (77.8%). Our study confirms that Pregabalin abuse is taking place amongst the addiction services population. We believe that misuse of this prescription drug is a serious emerging issue which should be monitored carefully
Keywords:
DRUGS; DRUGS MISUSE; EPILEPSY

Full metadata record

DC FieldValue Language
dc.contributor.authorMcNamara, Sen
dc.contributor.authorStokes, Sen
dc.contributor.authorKilduff, Ren
dc.contributor.authorShine, Aen
dc.date.accessioned2016-02-24T14:49:35Zen
dc.date.available2016-02-24T14:49:35Zen
dc.date.issued2015-12en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10147/597129en
dc.descriptionPregabalin (Lyricafi) is used in treating epilepsy, nerve pain and anxiety. Pregabalin was initially thought to have a low misuse potential however there are emerging reports of Pregabalin being abused. A study was commenced at the National Drug Treatment Centreâ s (NDTC) Drug Analysis Laboratory to determine the level of usage of Pregabalin within the addiction services population in Ireland. A total of 498 urine samples representing samples from 440 individual opioid substitution patients, initially screened by immunoassay for drugs of abuse, were subjected to further analysis for Pregabalin by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS). Of 440 patients tested, 39 tested positive for Pregabalin (9.2%). Only 10 patients from this group were prescribed this drug to our knowledge thus giving an estimated rate of misuse of 7.0%. Other drugs detected in the Pregabalin positive patients were Opiates (31.8%), Cocaine (11.4%), Benzodiazepines (79.5%) and Cannabis (77.8%). Our study confirms that Pregabalin abuse is taking place amongst the addiction services population. We believe that misuse of this prescription drug is a serious emerging issue which should be monitored carefullyen
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherIrish Medical Journalen
dc.subjectDRUGSen
dc.subjectDRUGS MISUSEen
dc.subjectEPILEPSYen
dc.titlePregabalin abuse amongst opioid substitution treatment patientsen
dc.typeArticleen
dc.identifier.journalIrish Medical Journalen
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