UCL Researchers Find Concurrent Gabapentinoid and Benzodiazepine Use Doubles Drug Poisoning Risks

UCL researchers find combining gabapentinoids with benzodiazepines or opioids significantly increases drug poisoning risks, urging stricter clinical monitoring.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 4:33 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from University College London

Escalating Global Prescription Rates Highlight Safety Concerns

Gabapentinoids, such as gabapentin and pregabalin, have become some of the most frequently prescribed medications globally, particularly for the management of chronic pain, epilepsy, and anxiety disorders. Originally developed as antiseizure medications, they are now the seventh most commonly prescribed drug class in the United States, with usage increasing fourfold in 65 countries between 2008 and 2018. Despite their reputation as safer alternatives to opioids, University College London (UCL) researchers warn that their rising popularity has not been matched by adequate vigilance regarding their interactions with other drugs. According to Dr. Kenneth Man of the UCL School of Pharmacy, the perceived safety profile of these drugs often masks substantial risks that both clinicians and patients must navigate.

Heightened Vulnerability Precedes Initiation of Treatment

The research team analyzed data from 16,827 individuals who experienced at least one drug poisoning hospitalization between 2010 and 2020. A significant finding of the study was that the highest risk of poisoning actually occurred in the 90 days prior to the first gabapentinoid prescription. This suggests that patients are often started on these medications during periods of intense clinical vulnerability, such as when existing symptoms are worsening or when concerns arise about the safety of their current opioid or benzodiazepine regimens. Dr. Andrew Yuen, the study’s first author, noted that while a clinician’s decision to prescribe gabapentinoids may be an intentional attempt to minimize poisoning risks from other drugs, the elevated danger often persists for months after treatment begins.

Toxic Synergies with Opioids and Benzodiazepines

The study quantified the specific dangers associated with polypharmacy, demonstrating that the combination of gabapentinoids with other central nervous system depressants is particularly hazardous. Patients taking both a gabapentinoid and a benzodiazepine were found to be four times more likely to be hospitalized for poisoning in the first four weeks of combined treatment compared to taking neither drug. When combined with opioids, the risk of poisoning in that initial month doubled. These findings are especially concerning given that 89 percent of the study participants were taking opioids and 5...