TY  - JOUR
AU  - Antunović, Marko
AU  - Vučinić, Slavica
AU  - Kotur-Stevuljević, Jelena
AU  - Krstić, Kristijan
AU  - Jović-Stošić, Jasmina
AU  - Kilibarda, Vesna
AU  - Perković-Vukčević, Nataša
AU  - Đorđević, Snežana
PY  - 2023
UR  - https://farfar.pharmacy.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4699
AB  - Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze data on gabapentinoid-related attendances to the National Poison Control Center of Serbia (NPCC), particularly abuse cases; to estimate its changes and to compare it with trends in national consumption rates of these drugs. We also aimed to analyze the main characteristics of the study population and to investigate the major clinical effects in poisoned patients. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients admitted to the NPCC for acute poisoning involving gabapentinoids from 1 May 2012 to 1 October 2022. Results: There were 357 (95.5%) pregabalin-related and 17 (4.5%) gabapentin-related poisoning cases in 302 patients. Abuse of pregabalin was detected in 27.8% (84/302), while gabapentin abuse occurred in 0.7% (2/302) of all patients. A steady increase in rates of pregabalin poisoning and abuse cases strongly correlated with the increase in overall consumption of this drug, while there were no significant changes in rates of gabapentin consumption, poisoning and abuse rate during the study period. Most patients who abused pregabalin pregabalin were males (84.5%) and the median age was 26 years (range: 15–45 years). Almost 60% of patients who abused pregabalin (48/84) belonged to the migrant population. Co-ingestions occurred in 89.4% of pregabalin-related cases (319/357), resulting in more severe poisoning. The most often co-ingested drugs were benzodiazepines and among them clonazepam was detected in the largest number of cases. Conclusion: The poisoning and abuse cases involving pregabalin are on the rise in Serbia, which coincided with an increase in its overall consumption during the study period. Isolated pregabalin ingestions resulted in mild poisoning, although severe symptoms such as coma and bradycardia were recorded. When prescribing pregabalin to patients at risk of abuse caution is needed. Strengthening the measures for dispensing of pregabalin may reduce the risks associated with its abuse.
PB  - Dove Medical Press Ltd
T2  - International Journal of General Medicine
T1  - Rise of Pregabalin Poisoning and Abuse Cases in Serbia: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study
VL  - 16
VL  - 16
SP  - 1239
SP  - 1250
EP  - 1250
EP  - 1250
DO  - 10.2147/IJGM.S405616
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Antunović, Marko and Vučinić, Slavica and Kotur-Stevuljević, Jelena and Krstić, Kristijan and Jović-Stošić, Jasmina and Kilibarda, Vesna and Perković-Vukčević, Nataša and Đorđević, Snežana",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze data on gabapentinoid-related attendances to the National Poison Control Center of Serbia (NPCC), particularly abuse cases; to estimate its changes and to compare it with trends in national consumption rates of these drugs. We also aimed to analyze the main characteristics of the study population and to investigate the major clinical effects in poisoned patients. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients admitted to the NPCC for acute poisoning involving gabapentinoids from 1 May 2012 to 1 October 2022. Results: There were 357 (95.5%) pregabalin-related and 17 (4.5%) gabapentin-related poisoning cases in 302 patients. Abuse of pregabalin was detected in 27.8% (84/302), while gabapentin abuse occurred in 0.7% (2/302) of all patients. A steady increase in rates of pregabalin poisoning and abuse cases strongly correlated with the increase in overall consumption of this drug, while there were no significant changes in rates of gabapentin consumption, poisoning and abuse rate during the study period. Most patients who abused pregabalin pregabalin were males (84.5%) and the median age was 26 years (range: 15–45 years). Almost 60% of patients who abused pregabalin (48/84) belonged to the migrant population. Co-ingestions occurred in 89.4% of pregabalin-related cases (319/357), resulting in more severe poisoning. The most often co-ingested drugs were benzodiazepines and among them clonazepam was detected in the largest number of cases. Conclusion: The poisoning and abuse cases involving pregabalin are on the rise in Serbia, which coincided with an increase in its overall consumption during the study period. Isolated pregabalin ingestions resulted in mild poisoning, although severe symptoms such as coma and bradycardia were recorded. When prescribing pregabalin to patients at risk of abuse caution is needed. Strengthening the measures for dispensing of pregabalin may reduce the risks associated with its abuse.",
publisher = "Dove Medical Press Ltd",
journal = "International Journal of General Medicine",
title = "Rise of Pregabalin Poisoning and Abuse Cases in Serbia: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study",
volume = "16, 16",
pages = "1239-1250-1250-1250",
doi = "10.2147/IJGM.S405616"
}

Antunović, M., Vučinić, S., Kotur-Stevuljević, J., Krstić, K., Jović-Stošić, J., Kilibarda, V., Perković-Vukčević, N.,& Đorđević, S.. (2023). Rise of Pregabalin Poisoning and Abuse Cases in Serbia: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study. in International Journal of General Medicine
Dove Medical Press Ltd., 16, 1239-1250.
https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S405616

Antunović M, Vučinić S, Kotur-Stevuljević J, Krstić K, Jović-Stošić J, Kilibarda V, Perković-Vukčević N, Đorđević S. Rise of Pregabalin Poisoning and Abuse Cases in Serbia: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study. in International Journal of General Medicine. 2023;16:1239-1250.
doi:10.2147/IJGM.S405616 .

Antunović, Marko, Vučinić, Slavica, Kotur-Stevuljević, Jelena, Krstić, Kristijan, Jović-Stošić, Jasmina, Kilibarda, Vesna, Perković-Vukčević, Nataša, Đorđević, Snežana, "Rise of Pregabalin Poisoning and Abuse Cases in Serbia: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study" in International Journal of General Medicine, 16 (2023):1239-1250,
https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S405616 . .