Original Research
Saturday, November 11, 2023
11:30 AM–01:00 PM
Abstract
Introduction: Adverse event (AE) reporting occurs through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), although data submitted are not always reflective of the full AE landscape. Social media can offer additional safety surveillance from the patient perspective, particularly for medications with a misuse risk, such as gabapentin, or for AEs not reported to FAERS.
Research Question or Hypothesis: Describe patterns related to gabapentin AEs and misuse via user-generated Twitter data.
Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional (January 2012 to September 2022)
Methods: Tweets were collected from SafeRx, a curated, comparative database utilizing a natural language processing engine to identify tweets related to a potential AE. De-identified English-language tweets collected from public accounts, relating to an identifiable person/use episode, which mentioned gabapentin were included. Researchers individually assessed each potentially AE-related tweet identified by SafeRx for: (1) confirmed presence of an AE, (2) presence of intentional misuse, (3) type of misuse (therapeutic, non-therapeutic, or diversion), (4) type of AE (gastrointestinal, cognitive, neurological, psychiatric, withdrawal, overdose), and (5) mention of other drugs/substances. A consensus process was performed to consolidate assessments on each tweet. Tweets with less than 50% consensus as to the presence of AE, duplicate tweets, and tweets about animal usage were excluded. Descriptive analysis (using Microsoft Excel; Redmond, WA) was performed.
Results: Overall, 7113 tweets related to gabapentin were analyzed, with 6285 (88.4%) included for analysis. A total of 4255 (67.7%) tweets identified an AE, with the most common type being neurological (1675; 39.4%). Intentional misuse was identified in 278 (4.4%) tweets, with the type most discussed being non-therapeutic (167; 60.1%). A total of 1187 (18.9%) tweets discussed the use of gabapentin with/alongside another drug/substance.
Conclusion: Data from Twitter suggests a high prevalence of gabapentin tweets related to AEs. Continuing work will correlate data from Twitter to that available from FAERS.
Presenting Author
Madelyn Arndt PharmD candidateDuquesne University School Of Pharmacy
Authors
MacKenzie Kirsch PharmD candidate
Duquesne University School Of Pharmacy
Katrina Lepro PharmD candidate
Duquesne University School Of Pharmacy
Kyle E Hultgren PharmD
Purdue University
Branden D Nemecek PharmD, BCPS
Duquesne University
Jordan R Covvey PharmD, PhD, BCPS
Duquesne University
Kirk E Evoy PharmD
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy and University of Texas Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine
Lia Ferraccio PharmD candidate
Duquesne University School Of Pharmacy
Sorina B Torrez PharmD
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Kelly R Reveles PharmD, PhD, BCPS
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy