Bone Fractures Caused by IC Gabapentin
Manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, interstitial cystitis (IC) gabapentin is sold under the trade name Neurontin. Originally developed and marketed as a treatment for partial seizures, it has since been found to help control nerve pain associated with shingles and peripheral neuropathy. Besides the proven uses of IC gabapentin, physicians often prescribe the medication for other off-label problems. Off-label prescription is the use of a medication for something other than what it is intended to treat. While there is no indication that IC gabapentin causes bone fractures, there are side effects associated with it that may cause bone fractures to occur.
-
Off-Label Uses
-
Some of the off-label uses of IC gabapentin are the treatment of neuralgia, migraine headaches and methamphetamine and cocaine addiction. Testing has been done as to its potential use for bipolar disorder, and to control hot flashes associated with menopause. It is commonly prescribed to help control chronic postoperative pain.
Bone Fractures
-
Two of the most common side effects of gabapentin are dizziness and coordination problems. These can cause someone to fall, resulting in a bone fracture. There is no proof that taking this medication in any way causes pathological bone fractures to occur. In fact, physicians commonly prescribe gabapentin to help control pain associated with bone fractures.
-
Clinical Trials
-
In clinical trials conducted by Pfizer, gabapentin demonstrated a potential to cause dizziness in 28 percent of the those taking it. In the study group, 1.5 percent reported some sort of coordination problems. Fewer than one in 1,000 people in the group had an increase in osteoporosis while taking gabapentin during the controlled study. An osteoporosis increase could potentially cause bone fractures, however the incidence was so small that it did not warrant further study to determine whether these individuals would have had an increase in osteoporosis if they had not been taking gabapentin.
Risks
-
In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that there may be an increased risk of suicide or suicidal thoughts associated with taking gabapentin. This warning was issued for all anticonvulsant drugs. While Pfizer continues to deny the association of gabapentin with increased suicidal ideation, the FDA found that there was an increase of 80 percent in patients taking anticonvulsants, thus potentiating the warning.
Precautions
-
Persons with gabapentin should not abruptly quit taking the drug, as it can cause withdrawal symptoms similar to those associated with benzodiazepine or alcohol withdrawal.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Erik Charlton
