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Gabapentin-induced severe myopathy

Tuccori M, Lombardo G, Lapi F, Vannacci A, Blandizzi C, Del Tacca M

The Annals of pharmacotherapy, 2007

28 citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To report and discuss a case of rhabdomyolysis in an elderly patient with neuropathic pain who was treated with gabapentin.

CASE SUMMARY: An 85-year-old diabetic woman was hospitalized for severe pain in her lower limbs and difficulty in walking, compromising her daily activities. On admission, the woman's laboratory parameters, including creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin, were in the normal range. Neurologic evaluation suggested a diagnosis of diabetic neuropathic pain, and therapy with gabapentin 150 mg 3 times daily was started. On the same day, the patient developed psychomotor agitation and gastric pain, which were treated with haloperidol 10 mg and lansoprazole 30 mg, respectively. In the following hours, the severity of muscular pain increased and the patient developed myopathy with acute renal failure (CK 459 U/L, myoglobin 11 437 ng/mL, creatinine 4.59 mg/dL), which worsened progressively during the next 2 days (CK 3095 U/L, myoglobin 17,000 mg/dL, creatinine 4.77 mg/dL) despite discontinuation of haloperidol and lansoprazole. No signs of trauma or edema, suggesting possible compartmental or crush syndrome, were detected. Gabapentin was then withdrawn and the patient's condition rapidly improved. Complete recovery followed in about 10 days.

DISCUSSION: Severe myopathy is an unexpected adverse reaction to gabapentin therapy. In this patient, a possible contribution of haloperidol or lansoprazole to the adverse event cannot be excluded. However, worsening…

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