Pregabalin-associated stuttering and frequent blepharospasm: case report and review.

Lingzhi Ge,Wenfei Li,Ang Li,Ping Li,Hongyan Xin,Ni Wang

doi:10.1007/s40199-020-00354-9

Abstract

Herpes zoster is an acute, painful, herpes skin disease caused by varicella-zoster virus, which may cause viral meningitis. Pregabalin has been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of pain in patients with herpes zoster. However, it has the side effects of neurotoxicity. We describe a 68-year-old female patient with herpes zoster, and she was treated with pregabalin. The patient presented with stuttering and frequent blepharospasm after 3 days of pregabalin treatment. Pregabalin was discontinued, the symptoms of stuttering and frequent blepharospasm completely resolved without any special treatment after one week. In this case, the etiology of stuttering and frequent blepharospasm may be related to pregabalin. Clinicians should be alert to the rare symptoms associated with the use of pregabalin.Graphical abstract.

Highlights

Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute, painful, herpes skin disease caused by varicella-zoster virus, which may cause viral meningitis
The main reason for reporting the case study is that the symptoms of stuttering and frequent blepharospasm may be related to pregabalin
Her stuttering and frequent blepharospasm were associated with the treatment of pregabalin and aciclovir, the symptoms of stuttering and frequent blepharospasm completely resolved without any special treatment after pregabalin was withdrawn for 1 week

Summary

Introduction

Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute, painful, herpes skin disease caused by varicella-zoster virus, which may cause viral meningitis. Our patient has the symptom of stuttering, and the special clinical characteristic of frequent blepharospasm. The main reason for reporting the case study is that the symptoms of stuttering and frequent blepharospasm may be related to pregabalin. The patient presented to our clinic with stuttering and frequent blepharospasm 3 days later. The patient had no additional signs or symptoms such as peripheral edema, unsteadiness, dizziness She had a history of periarthritis of shoulder in the past. We encouraged the patient to drink more water and the symptoms of stuttering and frequent blepharospasm alleviated 4 days later and completely resolved without any special treatment after pregabalin was withdrawn for 1 week. The symptoms of stuttering and frequent blepharospasm completely resolved 4 days later, and the neuralgia subsided after 4 months. No residual symptoms were found at a 6month follow-up

Discussion

Compliance with ethical standards