Possible association of pulmonary fibrosis with mexiletine

This case describes a 75-year-old man who developed pulmonary fibrosis. The onset of symptoms occurred three months after starting mexiletine. A computerized tomogram obtained eight months after initiating mexiletine documented findings consistent with chronic pulmonary fibrosis. The patient died from intractable respiratory difficulties 13 months after beginning mexiletine therapy. To date, there have been three cases of pulmonary fibrosis in patients receiving mexiletine spontaneously reported to the manufacturer.