Is gabapentin encarbil available in the UK?

[dickJones]

Is gabapentin encarbil available in the UK?

[Hidden]

No, at least not NHS.

I imagine this is because of its cost.

[dickJones in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, Manerva. I think it may be available via direct purchase so until it's passed by NICE for NHS prescription or comes off licence, it will only be available to those with health insurance.

[Hidden in reply to dickJones]

I believe you're right.

It may be also obtainable by private prescription.

If it were licensed in the UK, it would be probably licensed for RLS. If it wasn't licensed for RLS but for something else, e.g. like gabapentin is, then it's possible to prescribe it "off label" for RLS e.g. again as for gabapentin.

If it wasn't licensed for anything then it cannot be prescribed off label.

Unfortunately even if the MHRA were to license it, this doesn't mean NHS authorities will allow it to be prescribed. I was once taking a licensed medicine which was "blacklisted" in my region because it was "no more effective than the alternatives".

No mention of it being about 8 times the cost of the alternatives.