A rare case of a gabapentin-induced cardiomyopathy

Gabapentin, a γ-aminobutyric acid derivative, is used for the treatment of partial onset seizures, postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy and a host of other neurological disorders.

A 44-year-old woman with spinal stenosis was prescribed gabapentin for pain. Two months after initiating therapy, she was diagnosed with a new-onset non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy with an ejection fraction of 36% measured on a transthoracic echocardiogram.

A patient with suspected gabapentin-induced cardiomyopathy is reported. However, to date, gabapentin therapy has not been associated with risk of the developing a cardiomyopathy.