Prolonged myotonia and dystonia after general anaesthesia in a patient taking gabapentin.
This is the report of a 55-yr-old female who developed severe myotonia and dystonia after general anaesthesia. Before starting on gabapentin therapy for a neuropathic pain condition, she had undergone numerous uneventful general anaesthetics. Since receiving treatment with gabapentin, she has experienced severe movement disorders on emergence from each subsequent general anaesthetic. The events were unrelated to the choice of anaesthetic or anti-emetic. The most recent event that required a protracted stay in hospital after a day-case surgery is presented in detail, and the possible mechanisms to explain the interaction are discussed.
Allford
M A
MA
Department of Anaesthesia, York Hospital, Wigginton Road, York YO31 8ZZ, UK. mark.allford@dsl.pipex.com
D000588:Amines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018681:Anesthetics, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004421:Dystonia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009222:Myotonia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D018681:Anesthetics, General; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin