Why the risks from anxiety drugs won’t stop doctors prescribing them

Issues with the drugs have come to light as their use has trebled in Britain in a decade

Gabapentinoids have raised rates of suicide, overdose and injury by around a quarter (Shutterstock)

First developed in the early 1990s to treat epilepsy, gabapentinoids interfere with nerve signals – and in their short history, their use has expanded dramatically.

They are approved for nerve pain caused by shingles, diabetes, or a major accident – as well as for anxiety and a host of “off label” uses including migraine, menopause and alcohol dependency.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the growing recognition of chronic pain and anxiety in western society, their use has exploded.