Skip to main content

Gabapentinoids Not Directly Associated With Risk of Self-Harm

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on May 15, 2025.

via HealthDay

THURSDAY, May 15, 2025 -- Gabapentinoids are not associated with risk of self-harm in adults; however, elevated risk is seen before initiation of treatment, during the initial phase of treatment, and after discontinuation of treatment, according to a study published online April 30 in The BMJ.

Andrew S.C. Yuen, from University College London, and colleagues conducted a population-based self-controlled case series study to estimate the effect of gabapentinoid treatment on self-harm. Data were included for 10,002 adults with gabapentinoid prescriptions who had an incident event of self-harm between Jan. 1, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2020. Patient time was divided into four discrete windows: 90 days before treatment; the treatment period; 14 days after the treatment period; and the reference period (the person time that falls outside of the three other categories).

The researchers found that per 100 person-years, the incidence rate of self-harm was 16.79 in the 90 days before treatment, 9.66 in the treatment period, 29.60 in the 14 days after the treatment period, and 6.75 in the reference period. During the 90-day period before treatment, the risk of self-harm was increased, with an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 1.69. The risk of self-harm decreased gradually around the time of treatment initiation and returned to reference level during the treatment period. Within 14 days after treatment cessation, the adjusted incidence rate ratio for self-harm increased to 3.02. Throughout a series of subgroups and sensitivity analyses, the findings remained consistent.

"We observed that the association of gabapentinoids and risk of self-harm is multifaceted, and the association does not support a direct effect of gabapentinoid treatment on self-harm," the authors write.

One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

Editorial

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Addictive Screen Use Tied to Suicidal Behaviors in Early Adolescence

FRIDAY, June 27, 2025 -- Both high and increasing addictive screen use trajectories are associated with suicidal behaviors and worse mental health in early adolescence, according...

Paternal Mental Distress Linked to Poorer Offspring Development

WEDNESDAY, June 25, 2025 -- Paternal mental distress is associated with poorer child development, according to a study published online June 16 in JAMA Pediatrics. Genevieve Le...

Self-Esteem Scores Soar One Year After Metabolic, Bariatric Surgery

TUESDAY, June 24, 2025 -- Self-esteem scores increase after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), with greater improvement in scores for those with higher postoperative weight...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.