A new study from Monash University in Australia has found that gabapentinoids—commonly used drugs for treating neuropathic pain—may increase the risk of hip fractures in older adults, especially those who are frail or have kidney disease.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study analyzed patients in Victoria, Australia, who were hospitalized with hip fractures between March 2013 and June 2018 and had used gabapentinoids prior to their injury.
Gabapentinoids, which include medications like gabapentin and pregabalin, are often prescribed as a safer alternative to opioids for pain caused by nerve damage.
These drugs have seen a significant increase in use; between 2012 and 2018, prescriptions for gabapentinoids rose eightfold, with one in seven Australians aged 80 or older receiving these drugs.
Currently, gabapentinoids are among the top ten most frequently subsidized medications in Australia.
Professor Simon Bell, Director of the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety (CMUS) at Monash University, explained that although gabapentinoids are effective for managing neuropathic pain, they can also lead to side effects such as dizziness, balance issues, and difficulty walking—all factors that can increase the risk of falls and fractures.
The research team analyzed data from 28,293 patients who experienced hip fractures over a five-year period.
Their findings showed that patients who were prescribed gabapentinoids had a 30% higher risk of hip fractures within two months of starting the medication. The risk was present across different age groups but was significantly higher in patients who were frail or had chronic kidney disease.
“These findings suggest that gabapentinoid use is linked to an increased chance of hip fractures, particularly in older adults who are more vulnerable or have other health issues,” said Professor Bell. He emphasized the importance of carefully considering a patient’s risk factors, such as frailty or kidney problems, when prescribing these medications.
Professor Bell advised patients currently using gabapentinoids not to stop the medication on their own but to discuss any concerns with their doctor or pharmacist.
Abruptly stopping gabapentinoids can cause withdrawal symptoms or worsen pain, so any changes in treatment should be supervised by a healthcare professional.
This study is the first to specifically examine the increased risk of hip fractures in frail patients taking gabapentinoids compared to those who are not frail.
Lead author Miriam Leung, a Ph.D. candidate at CMUS, highlighted the need for caution in prescribing these drugs, particularly for people who are prone to falls or fractures. “Our findings stress the importance of assessing each patient’s fall and fracture risk before prescribing gabapentinoids,” Leung said.
The researchers also called for more studies to understand the risks of hip fractures with different doses of gabapentinoids and to explore how these risks vary with different levels of kidney function.
If you care about bone health, please read studies that plant-based diets can harm your bone health without these nutrients, and this bone problem may strongly increase COVID-19 death risk.
For more information about wellness, please see recent studies that too much of this vitamin may increase your risk of bone fractures, and results showing this type of exercise may protect your bone health, slow down bone aging.
