Choreoathetosis as a side effect of gabapentin therapy in severely neurologically impaired patients
R. S. Chudnow, R. B. Dewey Jr and C. R. Lawson
Department 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.
