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Severe neuromuscular complications possibly associated with amlodipine
1Department of Pharmaceutical Care, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|November 24, 1998
Summary
Amlodipine, a calcium-channel blocker, may cause severe muscle pain and weakness. This case highlights the importance of considering drug side effects, even uncommon ones, for conditions like myopathy.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Hypertension management often involves dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers like amlodipine.
- Asthma management may involve leukotriene receptor antagonists such as zafirlukast.
Observation:
- A patient developed severe myopathy, myalgias, arthralgias, and weakness after initiating amlodipine and zafirlukast.
- Symptoms progressed with increasing amlodipine dosage and resolved upon discontinuation.
- Neurologic symptoms including facial numbness and headache also occurred and resolved after stopping amlodipine.
Findings:
- Amlodipine was suspected as the cause of the patient's severe myopathy and neurologic symptoms.
- Myalgias and arthralgias are potential adverse effects of dihydropyridine calcium-channel antagonists.
- The temporal relationship between amlodipine dosage and symptom severity was critical in diagnosis.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider amlodipine as a potential cause of unexplained myopathy and arthralgias.
- This case underscores the need to evaluate drug-induced adverse effects, even rare ones.
- Further research may be warranted to elucidate the mechanisms of amlodipine-induced myopathy.
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