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Choreoathetosis as a side effect of gabapentin therapy in severely neurologically impaired patients
R S Chudnow1, R B Dewey, C R Lawson
1Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate the relationship of gabapentin therapy with choreoathetotic movements in mentally retarded patients treated with intractable epilepsy.
Design:
Case reports of 2 institutionalized patients who developed choreoathetosis temporally related to adjunctive therapy with gabapentin at dosages of 1200 to 1800 mg/d.
Results:
Both patients experienced resolution of abnormal movements on discontinuation of the therapy. One patient developed recurrent choreiform movements after drug rechallenge.
Conclusion:
We suggest that, in patients with mental retardation and epilepsy, involuntary movements may either occur as reversible side effects of gabapentin therapy or result from a previously undescribed adverse drug interaction with other antiepileptic agents.