Pregabalin serum levels in apprehended drivers

Kriikku, Pirkko; Wilhelm, L.; Rintatalo, Janne; Hurme, Jukka; Kramer, Jan; Ojanperä, Ilkka

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.06.030

Cited by 24 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…However, signals for the dependence potential of pregabalin were identified as early as 2004 in the UK [20] and in 2005 worldwide [21], with overall cases progressively increasing since 2008 [22]. History of substance misuse is typically associated with overuse of pregabalin [23][24][25][26]. Although tolerance to pregabalin has not been proven [27,28], its withdrawal syndrome may include agitation/ anxiety, craving, sweating, insomnia, fatigue, palpitations, tremors, and diarrhea [29][30][31][32][33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Decade of Gabapentinoid Misuse: An Analysis of the European Medicines Agency’s ‘Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions’ Database

2016

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Decade of Gabapentinoid Misuse: An Analysis of the European Medicines Agency’s ‘Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions’ Database

2016

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“…Time to reach maximal plasma concentration is approximately 1 hour and steady state is achieved within 24–48 hours . The typical therapeutic dose of PGB is 150 mg–600 mg/day (divided doses) …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GC‐MS/MS detects potential pregabalin abuse in susceptible subjects’ hair

Ianni

Aroni

Gili

et al. 2018

Drug Testing and Analysis

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Pregabalin, a GABA analogue, binds to the alpha 2 delta subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels. It is recognised as efficacious in pathologies such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety disorders. Since pregabalin prescriptions have increased worldwide, reports of its abuse have been accumulating, mainly in patients with opioid abuse disorders. The present study investigated potential pregabalin abuse by means of hair analysis, a matrix that provides valuable retrospective information. Half of the pool of 280 susceptible patients had been occasional drug users and were being monitored for driving licence renewals. The other 140 patients had a history of opiate dependency and were monitored to assess compliance with methadone therapy. In view of determining pregabalin in hair samples, it was extracted in methanol, successfully derivatised to give the ethyl chloroformate derivative, and finally pregabalin was analysed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Selectivity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, recovery, intra- and inter-day precision, and accuracy of the quantification procedure were appraised. Pregabalin limits of detection and quantification were 30 pg/mg and 50 pg/mg, respectively. We found 10.7% of hair samples from methadone patients and 4.29% from occasional drug users were positive to pregabalin without medical prescription. The mean pregabalin concentration in hair was higher than in consumers with medical indications (1.45 ng/mg vs 0.74 ng/mg). These results suggest that pregabalin possesses a significant abuse potential particularly among individuals attending opiate dependence services and that pregabalin abuse is a serious emerging issue, which should be carefully monitored.

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“…In recent years, PRG has started to be abused due to its euphoric effects, rapid absorption and fast onset of action [7][8][9][10][11][12]. Effects are described by abusers as comparable with alcohol/benzodiazepines/GHB but with enhanced euphoria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%