It’s something that happens a lot with pharmaceutical drugs. You take one to fix or fade this problem or that, and out pops a new issue. When it comes to our health, we need to know the implications of our medicines. Not just what the side effects are, but what the potential interactions are too. It looks like we’ve stumbled upon another one, with an FDA-issued warning on December 19th, 2019. The warning advises that anti-epileptic drugs, meant to stop seizures, might cause respiratory harm in folks with certain risk factors. (1)
The warning indicates that if you are using a product called gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) or pregabalin (Lyrica, Lyrica CR), you should pay close attention. There are serious possible respiratory repercussions as a result of using these drugs. These anti-epileptic drugs are also referred to as anticonvulsants. The drugs work by slowing down impulses in the brain that cause seizures.
The FDA warning goes on to state that the use of these drugs, collectively referred to as “gabapentinoids” is rising. Though these are prescription drugs, the problem seems to occur in folks who are prescribed these gabapentinoids in conjunction with antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, and/or antihistamines. Many, many people are on some form of medication for mood stabilization, so it’s not hard to see how the issue has grown.
What Is The FDA Doing About Gabapentin Interaction?
In short: They are just adding more warnings to the list of warnings.
From the FDA statement: “We are requiring new warnings about the risk of respiratory depression to be added to the prescribing information of the gabapentinoids. We have also required the drug manufacturers to conduct clinical trials to further evaluate their abuse potential, particularly in combination with opioids, because misuse and abuse of these products together are increasing, and co-use may increase the risk of respiratory depression. Special attention will be paid to the respiratory depressant effects during this abuse potential evaluation.” (1)
It’s a wonderful time we’re living in, where we have options in terms of our self-care. Eastern remedies, Western medicine, dietary changes, superfoods, these are all options for us. When eating right, and nature’s bounty of whole foods and plant medicines don’t seem to cut it, modern medicine can offer a boost. It is truly valuable, the myriad contributions that modern medicine offers toward our collective health.
But warnings like these serve to drive home the important fact that ultimately we alone are responsible for what goes into our bodies and what the ramifications are. A tightly-worded warning will be enough to absolve drug companies of any liability, and that leaves you as the sole custodian of your body. There is a lot of power in that, but it can get confusing when you’re in a doctor’s office and they are telling you to just take this new med.
Now is a great time to start asking questions… any questions that come to mind about your body and what’s happening in it. How best to care for you as an individual. Warnings like these can be scary. Just one more thing to protect against. Or they can be a little more empowering than that. This can be a reminder that medicine itself is a practice, it’s not perfect. And that you, as much as anyone out there, deserve your own loving care. Your body deserves the right answers.
