Gabapentin Dementia Lawsuit: What Patients Should Know About Joining the Litigation
Lawsuits filed against makers of popular nerve pain medications are seeking compensation for patients who suffered side effects that they were not told about; plaintiffs firm Grant & Eisenhofer is taking cases from patients nationwide alleging early-onset dementia and cognitive impairments.
Dealing with a condition that requires prescription medication can be hard enough—but when that drug causes memory problems and other cognitive issues, it can make life much more difficult. Our attorneys are investigating lawsuits filed against makers of gabapentin and pregabalin concerning early-onset dementia and cognitive impairments. Read on to see if you or a loved one may be eligible to file a claim for compensation.
Gabapentin and Pregabalin Lawsuit
Since the early 1990s, a drug called gabapentin (also known by its brand name Neurontin) has been an option for patients to treat certain kinds of nerve pain and seizures. About a decade later, another drug called pregabalin (Lyrica) hit the market, to treat patients suffering from nerve pain due to diabetes, shingles, or spinal cord injuries, as well as fibromyalgia and certain types of seizures.
Gabapentin and pregabalin are widely prescribed to alleviate these conditions—so much so that doctors have also prescribed the drugs to patients to manage other symptoms such as chronic back pain, insomnia, or anxiety. This is known as “off label” use, where drug companies manufacturing these medications have allegedly marketed the drugs for unapproved uses and failed to warn consumers and their doctors about risks patients may experience. The risks are at the crux of growing lawsuits against manufacturers of gabapentin and pregabalin, as research suggests a link between frequent use these drugs and dementia.
Risks Associated with Long-Term Gabapentin Off-Label Use:
- Development of early-onset dementia (before age 65), which can significantly affect the quality of a person’s life, their ability to work, and emotional state.
- Cognitive impairments impacting a person’s memory, ability to “think straight,” speech and communication, judgment, mood, and more.
These risks, many patients claim, were not communicated to them when they were prescribed the drug—for some, years or even decades ago. Some gabapentin or pregabalin patients may have been experiencing symptoms of cognitive decline but were not able to pinpoint the cause. Others may feel stuck taking medication that helps with their initial symptoms but also comes with these devastating side effects. As always, your doctor should guide you about starting or stopping any medication.
Do I Qualify to File a Gabapentin or Pregabalin Lawsuit?
Lawyers at Grant & Eisenhofer are helping people across the country seek compensation for their cognitive issues after taking gabapentin or pregabalin for an extended period. People who have taken either of these drugs may be eligible to file a lawsuit if they meet these three criteria:
- were prescribed gabapentin or pregabalin 6 or more times between the years 2000 and 2024
- were prescribed gabapentin or pregabalin for any purpose other than to treat nerve pain or seizures
- were diagnosed by a neurologist or other specialist with early-onset dementia before the age of 65
