Does Lyrica show up as Gabapentin on a drug test?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Does Lyrica show up as Gabapentin on a drug test?
Lyrica may show up as Gabapentin in a drug test, but standard drug tests don’t really look for these medications. Neither Lyrica (Pregabalin) nor Gabapentin is considered a drug of abuse or a controlled substance (1,2).
They both are prescription medications which are used for the management and treatment of epilepsy, nerve pain, and anxiety. These medications do not usually cause addiction and they are not included in the panel of drugs to be tested in most drug screenings (3).
However, Lyrica can show positive for Gabapentin in different urine analyses because of the similarity of these two medications in terms of how they work and how they affect your body.
However, the probability of Lyrica showing up as Gabapentin also depends on the accuracy of the testing procedure you’re going for. In general, Gabapentin does not show up on a drug test.
Similarities between Lyrica and Gabapentin
Lyrica and Gabapentin are both medications that belong to the same class of drugs called anticonvulsants. They are commonly used to treat similar conditions such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and certain types of nerve-related disorders (4,5).
One similarity between Lyrica and Gabapentin is that they both work by affecting the activity of certain chemicals in the brain and nerves, which helps to reduce pain and seizures.
Another similarity is that both Lyrica and Gabapentin can have similar side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, and coordination problems. These side effects can occur because both medications affect the central nervous system (1,2).
In terms of drug testing, it is possible for Lyrica to show up as Gabapentin on a drug test. This is because both medications are structurally similar and can produce similar metabolites in the body.
As a result, some drug tests may not be able to differentiate between the two substances, leading to a positive result for Gabapentin even if only Lyrica was taken.
However, it’s worth mentioning again that not all drug tests will detect Lyrica as Gabapentin, and the ability to detect specific drugs can vary depending on the type of test being used.
How to avoid Lyrica from showing up as Gabapentin on a drug test?
If you are taking Lyrica (pregabalin) and want to avoid it showing up as Gabapentin on a drug test, there are a few steps you can take. First and foremost, it’s important to inform the testing facility or the healthcare provider conducting the test about all the medications you are currently taking.
This includes providing accurate information about the specific medication names, dosages, and any accompanying prescriptions or documentation.
Additionally, it may be helpful to keep records of your Lyrica prescription or any relevant medical documentation that confirms your use of Lyrica. This can serve as evidence if there are any discrepancies in the drug test results.
In some cases, the testing facility may be able to use specialized tests that can differentiate between Lyrica and Gabapentin. These tests may be more specific and accurate in identifying the presence of Lyrica in your system.
Final words
To sum up, Lyrica can show up as Gabapentin on a drug test because of the chemical and structural similarities between the two medications.
If you have concerns about the potential confusion between Lyrica and Gabapentin on a drug test, it’s important to discuss these concerns with your healthcare provider. They can provide guidance and support to ensure accurate testing and interpretation of the results.
Remember, open communication with the testing facility and your healthcare provider is crucial to avoid any misunderstandings or misinterpretations of the drug test results.
By providing accurate information and maintaining clear documentation, you can help ensure that the drug test accurately reflects the medications you are taking.
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References
1.-
Cross AL, Viswanath O, Sherman AL. Pregabalin. 2022 Nov 14. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29261857. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470341
2.-
Yasaei R, Katta S, Saadabadi A. Gabapentin. 2022 Dec 19. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29630280. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493228
3.-
McNeil SE, Chen RJ, Cogburn M. Drug Testing. 2023 Jan 16. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29083751. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459334/
4.-
Ide Y. [Pregabalin (Lyrica)]. Masui. 2013 Jul;62(7):808-13. Japanese. PMID: 23905403. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23905403/
5.-
McLean MJ. Gabapentin. Epilepsia. 1995;36 Suppl 2:S73-86. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1995.tb06001.x. PMID: 8784216. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8784216/
