While this combination may be tolerated by those who are using these drugs as prescribed, recreational use of pregabalin and opioids increases risk of fatal overdose. Both substances potentiate the ataxia and sedation caused by the other and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. Memory blackouts are likely.
Evoy, K. E., Sadrameli, S., Contreras, J., Covvey, J. R., Peckham, A. M., & Morrison, M. D. (2021). Abuse and misuse of pregabalin and gabapentin: A systematic review update. Drugs, 81(1), 125–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-020-01432-7
Lyndon, A., Audrey, S., Wells, C., Burnell, E. S., Ingle, S., Hill, R., Hickman, M., & Henderson, G. (2017). Risk to heroin users of polydrug use of pregabalin or gabapentin. Addiction, 112(9), 1580–1589. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13843
Peckham, A.M., Fairman, K.A. & Sclar, D.A. All-Cause and Drug-Related Medical Events Associated with Overuse of Gabapentin and/or Opioid Medications: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of a Commercially Insured US Population. Drug Saf 41, 213–228 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-017-0595-1
Gomes, Tara, et al. “Gabapentin, Opioids, and the Risk of Opioid-Related Death: A Population-Based Nested Case–Control Study.” PLOS Medicine, vol. 14, no. 10, Oct. 2017, p. e1002396, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002396.
Opioids + Gabapentin
Dangerous
While this combination may be tolerated by those who are using these drugs as prescribed, recreational use of pregabalin and opioids increases risk of fatal overdose. Both substances potentiate the ataxia and sedation caused by the other and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. Memory blackouts are likely.
Evoy, K. E., Sadrameli, S., Contreras, J., Covvey, J. R., Peckham, A. M., & Morrison, M. D. (2021). Abuse and misuse of pregabalin and gabapentin: A systematic review update. Drugs, 81(1), 125–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-020-01432-7
Lyndon, A., Audrey, S., Wells, C., Burnell, E. S., Ingle, S., Hill, R., Hickman, M., & Henderson, G. (2017). Risk to heroin users of polydrug use of pregabalin or gabapentin. Addiction, 112(9), 1580–1589. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13843
Peckham, A.M., Fairman, K.A. & Sclar, D.A. All-Cause and Drug-Related Medical Events Associated with Overuse of Gabapentin and/or Opioid Medications: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of a Commercially Insured US Population. Drug Saf 41, 213–228 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-017-0595-1
Gomes, Tara, et al. “Gabapentin, Opioids, and the Risk of Opioid-Related Death: A Population-Based Nested Case–Control Study.” PLOS Medicine, vol. 14, no. 10, Oct. 2017, p. e1002396, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002396.