Award
NIH Reporter #1R01DA061796-01A1
Mechanistic Evaluation of Gabapentin and Opioid Polypharmacy
Recipient
University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
Award Amount
$659,796.00
Ceiling
$659,796.00
Awarded
May 28, 2026
Identifier
1R01DA061796-01A1
This award funds a study to evaluate the risks and benefits of co-using gabapentin and opioids in chronic pain patients, focusing on safety, efficacy, and potential for non-medical use.
Description
The project aims to conduct a rigorous, double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory trial to examine the risks and therapeutic benefits associated with the co-use of opioids and gabapentin among individuals with a prototypic chronic pain condition. The study will evaluate the effects of gabapentin and hydromorphone alone and in combination on risk for non-medical use, pain relief, and tolerability. Participants will include individuals with chronic lower back pain and a history of opioid use, undergoing multiple outpatient sessions with various drug dose combinations. Data collected will include subjective drug effects, sedation assessments, psychomotor performance, behavioral economic measures, sensory testing, blood pharmacokinetics, and vital signs.