Myalgia and elevation in muscle creatine phosphokinase during zimelidine treatment

The authors report a case involving a 65-year-old woman with DSM-III criteria for major unipolar depression in whom the administration of zimelidine, a potent and selective 5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake inhibitor, led to the development of a hypersensitivity reaction characterized by a severe headache, low grade fever, abnormal liver enzymes, and generalized myalgia 10 days after initiation of treatment. The most novel aspect of this hypersensitivity reaction to zimelidine was the development of abnormalities in muscle creatine phosphokinase in conjunction with the myalgia.