J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2008 May;43(5):237-238. 10.3340/jkns.2008.43.5.237.

Myoclonus Induced by the Use of Gabapentin

• Cho KT
• Hong SK

• KMID: 1477587
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2008.43.5.237

Abstract

Myoclonus is a rare side effect of gabapentin (GBP) and has been reported in patients with preexisting myoclonus, mental retardation, chronic static encephalopathy, diffuse brain damage, impaired renal function, or end stage renal disease. We report a case of myoclonus in a patient with normal renal function and no previous disorders. A 69-year-old female underwent diskectomy and foraminotomy at the left L4-L5 level. Postoperatively,she complained of paresthesia in her left leg, which was thought to be due to root manipulation during surgery. To relieve the paresthesia, she was given tramadol, an oral opioid agonist, and GBP. One week after GBP was increased to 900 mg per day, myoclonus developed, which severely impaired her normal activity. Her symptoms resolved 2 days after discontinuation of GBP. The coadministration of tramadol and GBP may mutually enhance the myoclonic potential of each drug. The causal relationship between GBP and myoclonus was suggested by cessation of myoclonus after GBP discontinuation despite continued therapy with tramadol.

Keyword

Myoclonus; Gabapentin (GBP); Opioids

MeSH Terms

Aged
Amines
Analgesics, Opioid
Brain
Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
Diskectomy
Female
Foraminotomy
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Humans
Intellectual Disability
Kidney Failure, Chronic
Leg
Myoclonus
Paresthesia
Tramadol
Amines
Analgesics, Opioid
Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
Tramadol
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid