Sir, – We write in response to Dr Muiris Houston’s article “‘Coffin tablet’ misuse: Why the painkiller pregabalin must be made a controlled drug in Ireland” (Health + Family, April 18th).
As a group of GPs working in areas of disadvantage we are only too familiar with the harm caused by this drug. These harms are not confined to people in addiction or homelessness, although that is where most unexpected deaths occur, especially if it is used in combination with other drugs.
We have seen problems with dependence in all groups of patients who may be started on this medication whether in hospital or in the community, for many reasons ranging from pain to anxiety. And we worry that medication prescribed for some patients may be being diverted to the street where it does most harm.
We are concerned that many of us GPs and our hospital colleagues in multiple specialities may underestimate the potential harm caused by this drug. Changing classification of pregabalin to a “schedule 2 drug” (similar to some opiates) would help to address the problem by greatly increasing the awareness of the risks of this medication for all prescribers, and also make it more difficult to forge prescriptions.
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We call on the Health Products Regulatory Authority to do this as soon as possible. – Yours, etc,
Dr EDEL McGINNITY,
Dublin 15;
Prof SUSAN SMITH,
Dublin 8;
Dr NIAMH O’BRIEN,
Galway;
Dr VIVIENNE WALLACE,
Dublin 5;
Dr DAVID GIBNEY,
Dublin 9;
Dr FIONA MONAHAN,
Cork;
Dr TADG LEHANE,
Dublin 8;
Dr SARAH FITZGIBBON,
Cork;
Dr BRID SHANAHAN,
Dublin 1;
Dr ANNA BEUG,
Dublin 8;
Dr PATRICK O’DONNELL,
Limerick.