@article{ref1,
title="Alarming pregabalin abuse in Munich: prevalence, patterns of use and complications",
journal="Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift",
year="2017",
author="Zellner, Nicolas and Eyer, Florian and Zellner, Tobias",
volume="142",
number="19",
pages="e140-e147",
abstract="Background Pregabalin is used e. g. for the treatment of neuropathic pain and anxiety disorder. Recently, its potential for abuse and addiction has become apparent. Methods From 2008 - 2015, we searched our database for the term &quot;Pregabalin&quot;, including all patients treated in our department and all calls to the Poison Information Centre (PIC) Munich.From October 2013 to September 2014, all patients were included in a cohort study who either were admitted with a drug intoxication or who presented themselves for a course of detoxification (except ethanol). Results From 2008 - 2015, 263 patients with Pregabalin abuse were treated. The number of cases per year increased from 0 - 5 in 2008 - 2011 to 105 in 2015. In 2008, the PIC received 3 calls concerning Pregabalin abuse, in 2015 the number of calls was 71. From 2013 - 2014, 80 out of 370 patients had consumed Pregabalin. It was the fifth most frequently abused substance. Pregabalin users had consumed more additional substances than other patients (median 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 vs. 2 1 2 3 4 5 6, p < 0.001) and they were more often in an opioid substitution treatment (41.2 vs. 21.7 %, p < 0.001).The most co-abused drugs were benzodiazepines (66.3 %), methadone (48.8 %), buprenorphine (32.5 %) and heroin (22.5 %). 88.0 % of all intoxicated patients had moderate to severe symptoms of intoxication like impaired consciousness (74.0 %), respiratory distress, (40.0 %), agitation/aggressiveness (28.0 %), restlessness (14.0 %), hallucinations (8.0 %) or seizures (8.0 %).The semi-quantitative urine concentration was 51.4 ± 66.0 mg/g Creatinine for intoxicated patients and 26.1 ± 23.0 for patients admitted for detoxification (n = 58; p = 0.034). Discussion Pregabalin abuse increases continuously and constitutes a significant health issue. Particularly patients with a history of substance abuse are vulnerable. Physicians should be aware of the substantial potential of Pregabalin for abuse and addiction and they should know the dangers of an intoxication. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.<p /> <p>Language: de</p>",
language="de",
issn="0012-0472",
doi="10.1055/s-0043-104228",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-104228"
}