A population-based cross-sectional analysis using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2018) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) found that gabapentin use was significantly associated with an increased risk of depression. After full adjustment for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors, gabapentin users had approximately 80% higher odds of depression and an average 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire score four points higher than nonusers. The association was stronger among women and those reporting less than 7 hours of sleep per night. In FAERS, 9,951 adverse events were linked to gabapentin, including 1,165 (11.7%) psychiatric events; suicidal ideation was the most frequently reported (22.6%), while insomnia showed the strongest association. Researchers emphasized that although causality cannot be established, clinicians should monitor for depressive symptoms when prescribing gabapentin, particularly in at-risk populations.

Source: Medicine