Successful Management of Clozapine-induced Akathisia with Gabapentin Enacarbil: A Case Report.
10.9758/cpn.2018.16.3.346
- Author:
Masahiro TAKESHIMA
1
;
Hiroyasu ISHIKAWA
;
Yuka KIKUCHI
;
Takashi KANBAYASHI
;
Tetsuo SHIMIZU
Author Information
1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita, Japan. m.takeshima@med.akita-u.ac.jp
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Akathisia;
drug induced;
Antipsychotic agents;
Clozapine;
Gabapentin;
Gabapentin enacarbil;
Restless legs syndrome
- MeSH:
Adult;
Antipsychotic Agents;
Benzodiazepines;
Biperiden;
Clozapine;
Female;
Humans;
Prognosis;
Psychomotor Agitation*;
Restless Legs Syndrome;
Schizophrenia
- From:Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
2018;16(3):346-348
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The management of clozapine (CLZ)-induced adverse events affects patient prognoses. Akathisia is a relatively rare adverse event related to CLZ administration and thus the management of this syndrome is not well established. Here, we report a case of treatment-resistant schizophrenia wherein CLZ-induced akathisia was successfully managed with gabapentin enacarbil (GE). The patient was a 39-year-old woman who had been treated with atypical antipsychotics other than CLZ for three years with poor tolerability. Initiation of CLZ (400 mg/day) attenuated her psychotic symptoms, but was followed by moderate akathisia. Neither benzodiazepines nor biperiden improved the akathisia; however, akathisia was finally diminished with co-administration of GE. GE facilitated a dosage increase in CLZ (450 mg/day) for the improved management of pyschotic symptoms, and thus indirectly contributed to treatment of the patient’s schizophrenia. We suggest that GE is a useful candidate for the management of CLZ-induced akathisia. The improved management of treatment-induced akathisia and other adverse events can extend the potential application of CLZ for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
