Gurbir Grewal

New Jersey pharmaceutical regulators are proposing to closely monitor prescriptions for gabapentin, a drug that's nonaddictive but can be misused to enhance the effects of opioids and other addictive drugs.

State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and Sharon Joyce, the acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, announced a proposed one-year trial program that would require drug stores to report sales of gabapentin.

The reporting requirement could become permanent, they said in a statement.

“The director believes that the monitoring of prescriptions issued for gabapentin is warranted in light of growing concern about the use of gabapentin for purposes other than those authorized under federal law and the potential side effects associated with the misuse of this medication,” the Jan. 23 statement said.

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant normally prescribed to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. However, the drug can be misused to enhance the euphoric effects of opioids, muscle relaxants and anxiety medications, officials said.

A 2016 study by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry estimated that one in five users of gabapentin abuse the medication, according to the statement.

Grewal and Joyce said there were 57 million prescriptions written for gabapentin in the United States in 2015, a 42 percent increase from 2011.

Seven other states, they said, currently require reporting of gabapentin prescriptions.

The move is a continuation of an effort by former Gov. Chris Christie to combat opioid addiction in the state.

Last February, Christie signed legislation that limits prescriptions for opioids to five days. Most recently, Christie was the chairman of the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.