Off-label gabapentin: Where science meets practice
Gabapentin—the fifth most prescribed drug in the US—is back in the news.
95% of its use is off-label. Why? It’s approved for epilepsy, as a nerve blocker for pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, alcohol and drug withdrawal, and more.
Gabapentin itself can be a substance abuse in high uses. There are additive adverse effects with the drugs used in dentistry.
These three questions are essential when talking to patients about their medical history: What do you take? Why did you take it? Did you take it today?
Join us in this episode of Medical History Mysteries as we discuss the off-label uses of gabapentin, its side effects, and how it can affect dental treatment.
Thumbnail image credit: Andrii Dodonov / iStock / Getty Images Plus
More Medical History Mysteries videos …
- From PCOS to PEMOS: The bigger health picture
- Cannabis and mental health: Therapeutic tool or clinical risk?
The Dental Economics Network brings you the best content from Dental Economics, RDH, DentistryIQ, and Perio-Implant Advisory.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Clinical Insights newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe.
About the Author
Pamela Maragliano, DMD
Pamela Maragliano, DMD, is the chief editor of Dental Economics. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics. You may contact her at [email protected].
Tom Viola, RPh, CCP
With more than 30 years’ experience as a board-certified pharmacist, clinical educator, professional speaker, and published author, Tom Viola, RPh, CCP, has earned the reputation as the go-to specialist for making pharmacology practical and useful for dental teams. He is the founder of Pharmacology Declassified and is a member of the faculty of more than 10 dental professional degree programs. Viola has contributed to several professional journals and pharmacology textbooks, and currently serves as a consultant to the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs.