The Hidden Risk of a Common Medication: Why Manufacturers of Gabapentin are Under Fire Amid Dementia Claims
Gabapentin and pregabalin are considered a safer alternative to opioids; however, they are not risk-free. Manufacturers of the drugs are now facing serious scrutiny, as research links the medications to cognitive decline and early-onset dementia.
For decades, the drugs gabapentin (Neutonrin) and pregabalin (Lyrica) have been prescribed by physicians and healthcare providers for off-label uses to treat pain as an alternative to addictive opioids. Recent studies suggest these drugs may come with unexpected health consequences showing potential links to early on-set dementia and cognitive impairments.
New litigation alleges that manufacturers of gabapentin failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare providers about the drug's potential risks of early-onset dementia and cognitive decline with long-term use in adults under the age of 65. A 2025 retrospective cohort study examined patients with chronic low back pain who had been prescribed gabapentin six or more times, comparing them to similar control groups. The results were shocking: those on long-term gabapentin prescriptions showed a 29% higher risk of developing early-onset dementia and an 85% higher risk of developing cognitive impairments before the age of 65.
Additionally, insights from a study conducted in 2022, concluded that among older adults with normal cognition, taking gabapentin was significantly associated with cognitive and functional decline as well as increased falls.
Researchers believe gabapentin may interfere with how neurotransmitters communicate in the brain, which may disrupt the processes responsible for memory. Because off-label use and prescriptions have become so common, the number of patients who may have been unknowingly exposed to this risk could run into the thousands.
Who is to blame?
Drug manufacturers have a legal obligation to warn patients and physicians about serious risks associated with their products, even if it is for off-label uses. That obligation is now at the center of the lawsuits being filed against Pfizer, a gabapentin manufacturer, and other pharmaceutical companies.
Many plaintiffs allege that Pfizer promoted gabapentin for off-label uses—such as chronic pain, migraines, and bipolar disorder—without adequately disclosing the drug's potential risk for dementia and cognitive impairments. The lawsuits argue that Pfizer either knew or should have known about these risks, given the multiple research studies and findings connecting the medication to poor cognitive outcomes.
How do you know if you may qualify to file a claim?
Multiple plaintiffs allege symptoms of intense memory lapses, forgetfulness, and other memory issues. Patients who are taking the medication and their family members or caregivers should pay attention to symptoms of early on-set dementia including:
- Repeating themselves in the same conversation
- Difficulty finding familiar words or names in a conversation
- New or worsening confusion
- Changes in visual or spatial awareness
- Increased forgetfulness about recent events, appointments, or day-to-day activities
- Slower thinking or trouble following conversations or forming sentences
- Unsteady walking, increased falls, or balance problems
Do you fit the criteria below? Compensation may be available for the emotional or physical damages you endured.
If you or a loved one was:
- prescribed gabapentin or pregabalin 6 or more times between the years 2000 and 2024
- prescribed gabapentin or pregabalin for any purpose other than to treat nerve pain or seizures
- diagnosed by a neurologist or other specialist with early-onset dementia before the age of 65
