Is Gabapentin A Controlled Substance In Indiana

Gabapentin (Neurontin) has several medical uses, simply may be combined with other drugs of abuse for its sedative-similar effects, leading to dangerous consequences. For this reason, some states accept begun classifying the medication equally a controlled substance.

Is Gabapentin (Neurontin) A Controlled Substance?

Neurontin is generally used equally an anticonvulsant for reducing epileptic seizures or equally a pain medication for treating nerve pain that is acquired by multiple sclerosis. Sometimes, doctors prescribe it to patients who have other medical conditions, such as restless leg syndrome.

Unfortunately, gabapentin is sometimes abused by people with polysubstance use disorders who mix it with opiates, like heroin and other pain medications, to increment the effects of these drugs.

The combined effects of gabapentin and other opiates or drugs of corruption contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular failure, causing many individuals to suffer from a drug overdose. Because of this risk, some states are starting to classify gabapentin as a controlled substance in lodge to limit a patient's ability to corruption the medication.

Controlled Substances: Dangerous Drug Classifications

Drugs are classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration according to their potential for abuse and whether they have whatsoever valuable medical purposes. Each controlled substance is put on a numbered schedule to assistance law enforcement officials and medical professionals know how information technology is supposed to be handled in legal and medical matters.

The following is a list of the schedules of controlled substances currently used by the DEA:

Schedule I Drugs: These drugs have no medical purposes. They are highly addictive and ofttimes abused. Heroin, marijuana, and LSD are on this list.
Schedule II Drugs: Drugs on this list are frequently driveling, simply they serve some medical purposes. Methadone and morphine are on this list.
Schedule Iii Drugs: The drugs on this list have a reduced likeliness of being abused or causing physical dependence. There are even so some dangers to using them, though. Ketamine, which is frequently misused as a appointment rape drug, is on this list.
Schedule IV Drugs: Common medications with codeine are on this list, such every bit cough syrup, because there is a very low gamble of them being abused. Some people may get dependent on these drugs.
Schedule V Drugs: Any drugs that are listed on this last schedule have a very low risk of being abused. Gabapentin is at present a Schedule 5 drug in two states.

Why Gabapentin (Neurontin) Is A Controlled Substance In Some States

Agreement why gabapentin (Neurontin) is a controlled substance requires learning near the style that federal and country laws tin can vary regarding controlled substances. Currently, the federal government is not listing gabapentin as a controlled substance.

This means that states have the pick of changing their individual laws if they have concerns near the drug existence misused. The first two states to laissez passer laws about the regulation of gabapentin were Kentucky and Michigan.

Kentucky first declared gabapentin to be a controlled substance after more one-3rd of their drug overdose deaths in 2016 involved the medication. Michigan listed it equally a Schedule V drug to help fight the opioid epidemic in the state. After on, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia changed the nomenclature of the drug, as well. Ohio may soon be following suit.

Gabapentin Is One Of The Most Frequently Prescribed Drugs In The U.S.

Gabapentin can exist used to care for many different conditions because it works well every bit an anticonvulsant, pain medication, and allaying. Doctors frequently prescribe it for purposes other than those that it was developed for.

One example of this is that gabapentin is prescribed to patients every bit an alternative to the medication-assisted treatment medications for opioid use disorders prescribed at alcohol and drug treatment centers. Sometimes, alcoholics receive gabapentin as a way of reducing their withdrawal symptoms.

Gabapentin Is Cheap And Like shooting fish in a barrel To Obtain

A standard prescription for Neurontin costs less than 20 dollars to fill up. The generic version is even cheaper. Gabapentin pills are oft sold past drug dealers for less than a dollar each. Since the medication isn't a controlled substance in most places, it is common for people to "doctor store" to get as many prescriptions for it as they can.

Heroin And Cocaine Are Being Laced With This Drug

Considering gabapentin acts every bit a sedative on the central nervous system, some illicit drug manufacturers mix information technology with heroin and cocaine to make the drugs more potent. The mode the medication is misused seems to vary, because each person'south torso chemistry is dissimilar.

For some, the medication causes an intense flare-up of energy, so they may adopt to mix it with cocaine. Others are sedated past it, so they may mix information technology with heroin or other opioids.

Why Is Gabapentin Not A Federally Controlled Substance?

Understanding why gabapentin is a controlled substance isn't like shooting fish in a barrel because the medication doesn't affect the same receptors in the brain that opioids do. While it has a high potential for corruption, information technology isn't considered to be a unsafe substance yet, since it still has medicinal properties.

This might change shortly, considering many states have been passing their own laws to try to bring more public awareness to the potential for abuse of gabapentin, particularly in individuals who struggle with abuse of other drugs.

How Changes To Drug Classifications Affect Patients

If this medication becomes classified as a controlled substance, it affects patients and medical professionals in different ways. Patients will have to have a paper prescription to take to the pharmacy since electronic prescriptions won't be usable. They will likewise be limited to the corporeality of the medication they tin can get and how many prescriptions for information technology they tin can receive.

Doctors who are registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration will be the only ones to be able to requite the prescriptions out. Whatever other medical professional with a patient who needs the medication will have to requite them a referral to see someone else.

Treatment Options For Prescription Drug Corruption

There is a high gamble of drug overdose occurring when gabapentin is mixed with opioids and other illicit substances. Anyone who is struggling with a polysubstance use disorder that involves the medication needs to receive handling right away to help stop use of the drug and avoid the negative consequences of abuse.

For more information about treatment options for polysubstance use disorders or prescription drug abuse, exist certain to contact one of our addiction treatment specialists today.

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