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Gabapentinoids

Gabapentinoids has been studied in 5 papers since 2025: 4 observational studies in people, 1 review; 3 in the past year. The newest story, Oct 23, 2026: “Opioids linked to higher death risk in chronic kidney disease”.

Intervention

5 papers study it5 findingsUpdated

2 new papers in 30 daysSee all 5

“Long-term gabapentinoids were potentially associated with a modest increase in death amongst males (OR: 1.04 [1.00-1.08], P = 0.050)”
Long-Term Opioid and Gabapentinoid Related Harms in CKDKidney international reports2026doi:10.1016/j.ekir.2026.107085

None of its findings points the other way.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

  • 3 independent labs in 3 countries
  • Funders: University of Dundee and 1 more
  • Humans4

What did studies of Gabapentinoids find?

3

Studies of Gabapentinoids measured 3 outcomes; the most studied are mortality (1 study), vasomotor symptoms (1) and frailty (1).

Mortality

no changein humans1OR 1.02

1 study

  1. Gabapentinoids have no effect on mortality in humans (OR 1.02 [0.99–1.05], P = 0.201).

    “but not females (OR: 1.02 [0.99-1.05], P = 0.201).”

    Humanschronic kidney disease without kidney failuremedian follow-up 4.3 yearsfemales

    Opioids linked to higher death risk in chronic kidney disease

    Kidney international reports

Vasomotor symptoms

downin humans1

1 study

  1. Gabapentinoids decrease vasomotor symptoms in humans.

    “Gabapentinoids consistently improved vasomotor symptoms but showed limited and low-certainty effects on mood outcomes.”

    Reviewmenopausal transition and postmenopausefemales

    Efficacy and safety of non-hormonal pharmacotherapies for depressive and anxiety symptoms during the menopausal transition and postmenopause: a systematic review

    BMC psychiatry

More on Vasomotor symptoms

Frailty

upin humans1OR 3.12

1 study

  1. Gabapentinoids increase frailty in humans (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.75-5.55).

    “gabapentinoids only, OR: 3.12, 95% CI 1.75-5.55”

    Humanscompared with no continued opioid/no gabapentinoid use in long-term opioid users

    Association Between Gabapentinoid Use and Changes in Claims-Based Frailty Among Long-Term Opioid Users

    Drugs & aging

What is Gabapentinoids linked with?

2

Studies link Gabapentinoids with 2 measures, most often mortality (1 study) and frailty (1).

Mortality

upin humans1OR 1.04

1 study

  1. Gabapentinoids are associated with mortality in humans (OR 1.04 [1.00–1.08], P = 0.050).

    “Long-term gabapentinoids were potentially associated with a modest increase in death amongst males (OR: 1.04 [1.00-1.08], P = 0.050)”

    Humanschronic kidney disease without kidney failuremedian follow-up 4.3 yearsmales

    Opioids linked to higher death risk in chronic kidney disease

    Kidney international reports

Frailty

upin humans1OR 3.71

1 study

  1. Gabapentinoids are associated with frailty in humans (OR 3.71 (3.07-4.48)).

    “Adding a gabapentinoid (triple therapy, n = 67) raised the odds ratio to 3.71 (3.07-4.48).”

    Humanstriple therapyn = 67

    Chronic co-prescription of opioids and benzodiazepines is associated with higher frailty prevalence in older US adults: A nationally representative cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2005-2018

    Experimental gerontology

Latest

Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 0Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 1Jul 2026: 1Aug 2026: 0Sep 2026: 1Oct 2026: 03 papers in 12 months
Kidney International Reports

Opioids linked to higher death risk in chronic kidney disease

Estimated death risk over 28 days was 0.4% after one 90-day opioid prescription period versus 0.6% after six in adults with chronic kidney disease.Estimated death risk over 28 days was 0.4% after one 90-day opioid prescription period versus 0.6% after six in adults with chronic kidney disease.

Cohort · 21,440 peopleChronic kidney disease
Paper

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