Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2025
28:13
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
33.5K
Atrial fibrillation induced by gabapentin: a case report
Sung Hwan Park1, Kristen Hunter2, Hugh Berry2
1Department of Anesthesiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Drummond Hall-2Nd Floor, 3691 Rutger St., Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
Journal of Medical Case Reports
|June 8, 2023
Summary
Gabapentin, often prescribed for pain and seizures, may induce new-onset atrial fibrillation in young adults. This case highlights a potential cardiovascular risk in younger individuals, necessitating further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Gabapentin is widely prescribed for neuropathic pain, restless leg syndrome, and seizures.
- While CNS side effects are common, gabapentin can also impact the cardiovascular system.
- Existing evidence links gabapentin to atrial fibrillation risk, primarily in elderly patients with comorbidities.
Observation:
- A young African American male in his 20s with lumbar radiculitis developed atrial fibrillation 4 days after initiating gabapentin.
- Extensive laboratory workup revealed no significant abnormalities.
- Echocardiography identified a patent foramen ovale with a right-to-left shunt.
Findings:
- The patient was treated with diltiazem and apixaban, followed by direct current cardioversion, restoring sinus rhythm.
- Discharge medications included apixaban and diltiazem, with apixaban later switched to low-dose aspirin.
- This case suggests gabapentin may induce atrial fibrillation in younger individuals.
Implications:
- Increasing use of gabapentin for various indications necessitates identifying its unintended adverse effects.
- This case expands the known risks of gabapentin to include new-onset atrial fibrillation in younger populations.
- Clinicians should consider potential cardiovascular risks, including atrial fibrillation, even in young patients prescribed gabapentin.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
219
Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
219
01:18Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
473
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
473
01:25ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
52
Arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, with ECG changes that differ based on its origin and nature. The types of arrhythmias discussed below include atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias.Atrial ArrhythmiasPremature Atrial Complexes (PACs): PACs are early atrial beats caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, or certain medications (e.g., bronchodilators and decongestants). The ECG shows early P waves with an...
52
01:14Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
435
Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
435
01:08Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers
696
Antiepileptic drugs are specialized medications that prevent seizures in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. These drugs primarily function by blocking the movement of sodium ions through channels in the neuronal membrane, inhibiting the repetitive firing of action potentials often associated with seizures.
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
696
01:20Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers
890
Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, block calcium channels. They primarily affect the heart, slowing the conduction in calcium-dependent tissues like the SA and AV nodes. These drugs manage reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and reduce ventricular rate in atrial flutter/fibrillation.
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
890