A bunch of painkillers prescribed to millions of Brits have been given an addiction warning after they went through a safety review, which found it necessary to add some further caution to them.
Often prescribed to treat conditions such as pain, insomnia and anxiety, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has decided that gabapentinoids, benzodiazepines and z-drugs pose enough of an addiction risk to warrant the extra warning.
Patients who get prescribed these drugs will now get an information leaflet that tells them the painkillers 'may cause addiction, dependence, and withdrawal reactions'.
There will also be more information on how to deal with the possibility of addiction and how to safely reduce your usage of a drug which may be habit-forming.
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Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, warned that anyone can suffer from addiction, even if they were taking prescribed medication according to their instructions.
She explained that the stronger warnings would help patients be more aware of the risks the prescriptions might pose, and urged people to remember that, despite the risk of addiction, there was a reason these medications were prescribed to people and not to stop taking them without seeking medical advice.
She said: "Addiction and dependency can happen to anyone taking these medicines, even when used as directed. That’s why we are strengthening warnings so patients and healthcare professionals can better understand the risks.
“These medicines remain valuable treatments for many patients, and it’s important they have the information they need to be able to use them safely.
“If you have any questions about your medication use or side effects, please speak to a healthcare professional. Do not stop taking your medicine without advice, as this could cause withdrawal symptoms.”
Which prescriptions have warnings?
Gabapentinoids include pregabalin and gabapentin, which treat epilepsy and nerve pain. According to the Daily Mail, figures from the NHS indicate around 4.5 million Brits were prescribed gabapentinoids in the year 2022-23, and around 800,000 take pregabalin every day for pain relief.
Other drugs with addiction warnings include benzodiazepines, which are commonly prescribed for anxiety or sleeping problems; they include Valium (diazepam), lorazepam, clobazam, temazepam and nitrazepam.
Then there are the z-drugs, which include zopiclone, zolpidem and eszopiclone and are used to treat insomnia.
You'll know if you're prescribed them, as you'll be given the warnings as part of the patient information provided to you.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) explains that attempting to stop your prescription without tapering it off is more likely to leave you with withdrawal symptoms.
Joe Harker