Gabapentin has become one of the nation's most commonly prescribed drugs in recent years, and some physicians are calling for greater scrutiny. According to the New York Times, each year nearly 6 million older adults are prescribed gabapentin, which was originally approved to treat epileptic seizures, for a wide array of conditions including arthritis, lower back pain, post-surgery pain, and fibromyalgia. Some physicians, however, believe that gabapentin is often inappropriately prescribed, and can lead to additional over-prescribing to manage the drug's side effects. The drug is also known to increase fall risk in some older patients.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
