CBC: "Commonly prescribed drugs for back pain (gabapentinoids)often ineffective"

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"Commonly prescribed drugs for back pain often ineffective, review says; Existing studies do not support use or show benefits for gabapentin."

 

"Doctors are prescribing anti-seizure and nerve pain medications for a common type of chronic low-back pain, a non-licensed use, despite a lack of studies supporting their effectiveness for that purpose, according to a new review.

 

The drugs, known as gabapentinoids, include gabapentin (originally marketed under the brand name Neurotonin) and pregabalin (previously sold as Lyrica alone). Health Canada approved gabapentin to treat epilepsy that isn't controlled by conventional therapy, and pregablin is indicated for types of nerve pain."

 

The full article is here:

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/gabapentinoids-low-back-pain-1.4248651