title: A case of gait disturbance caused by low-dose gabapentin.
abstract: Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant agent, is now often used for the treatment of neuropathic pain all over the world. It is unclear whether the combined use of gabapentin, sodium valproate, and flunitrazepam results in enhancement of the side effect, a gait disturbance. A 60-year-old man was taking oral sodium valproate for symptomatic epilepsy after a brain contusion and flunitrazepam to relieve insomnia. Oral gabapentin therapy was started for suspected neuropathic pain. Although the initial dose of oral gabapentin (200 mg) relieved the pain, the lower extremities became weak, resulting in a gait disturbance. The therapy was restarted with a halved dose, and this resolved the gait disturbance and relieved the pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanao-Kanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Takahata
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunisawa
keywords: gabapentin; gait disturbance; neuropathic pain; side effect