title: Isolated ataxia as an idiosyncratic side-effect under gabapentin.
abstract: Gabapentin has been accepted worldwide as a novel antiepileptic drug with a favourable tolerability profile. However, movement disorders have been reported previously as rare side-effects in individual patients. We report on two patients who developed isolated severe ataxia under low-dose gabapentin which resolved abruptly after discontinuation of the drug. This side-effect probably resembled a rare idiosyncratic adverse reaction. We propose the gabapentin-specific neuronal binding site which has a high density in the cerebellum as a possible mechanism of action and suggest that the initiation of gabapentin requires caution if pre-existing cerebellar function impairment is evident.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Steinhoff
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herrendorf
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bittermann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kurth
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin