Oculogyric crisis possibly related to pentazocine

To report and describe the apparent first case of acute oculogyric crisis following administration of pentazocine, and to discuss the possible mechanism for this reaction.

Patient case and relevant review of literature. The patient, a 39-year-old woman, developed acute oculogyric crisis following administration of Talacen (pentazocine and acetaminophen) for pain relief. The crisis resolved after discontinuation of the medication and administration of intravenous diphenhydramine 50 mg.

Based on the temporal relationship of drug administration to occurrence of the event, pentazocine is implicated as the cause of this acute oculogyric crisis. A plausible mechanism for precipitation of this crisis is the agonism of pentazocine on sigma opiate receptors, with postulated subsequent modulation of dopamine receptors.