I don't think that that is what's meant by "abuse". In the US it has undergone a whole controversy because it was the new "aspirine", as it was being prescribed so much, so often. So that's what they mean by it.

It is a very safe, very effective medication for nerve pain, IMMHO. And so high trees catch a lot of wind... That's how it usually goes!

It's only being refunded in my country for the last 5+ years or so. Lyrica got on the market here first and was even refunded before Neurontin was (but it didn't take that long). Before that I had to pay full price for the medication (€40+ euro a box and that lasted me 10 days, so you can imagine). Now I have to pay under €4 a box, so *big* improvement.

I've been very good with Neurontin. It works wonders on the nerve pain (the ICYness OMG). The remainder of the pain is dealt with with pain patches as I'm on the second largest dose of Neurontin. The doctor didn't want me on the highest dose, so that I still would have some leeway should things ever get even worse than they are.