Abstract

Gabapentin, an anti-epileptic drug (AED) is commonly used off label for management of neuropathic pain and psychiatric disorders. Dosing of gabapentin requires taking into consideration the renal function as it is entirely cleared by the kidneys. Acute kidney injury and end stage renal disease increase the risk of developing myoclonic activity, an infrequent manifestation of gabapentin toxicity. We report a case of confusion and myoclonic activity related to gabapentin toxicity coincident with acute kidney injury that resolved with discontinuation of gabapentin and treatment with intravenous fluid hydration. As gabapentin is commonly used off label across multiple specialties, clinician recognition of the significance of renal dosing and understanding of the potential association with myoclonus and neurotoxicity is important.

1. Introduction

Gabapentin is a widely used medicine in clinical practice to treat neuropathy and musculoskeletal pain ¹. Gabapentin dosing depends on the kidney function ^{3, 4}. Serious neurological toxicity may result in patients with impaired kidney function.

2. Case

A 55 year old female with history of bipolar disorder, depression, hypertension, and chronic back pain presented with uncontrolled movements of all four extremities and increased propensity to fall for 1 week prior to admission. The patient had no history of renal disease. Her medications on admission included acetaminophen, clonazepam, gabapentin 1500 mg/day, hydrocodone, lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide, quetiapine, omeprazole, sumatriptan, and simvastatin. Physical examination did not reveal any focal neurological deficit but revealed a combination of myoclonus and asterixis with unbalanced gait; clinically the patient appeared to be volume depleted with dry mucous membranes. Abnormal lab results on admission included sodium level of 132 mmol/L, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 73 mg/dL, creatinine (Cr) 3.7 mg/dL as compared to BUN 17 mg/dL and Cr 0.7 mg/dL at baseline 8 weeks ago, and white blood cell count 1.34x10 ³/uL. Urinalysis revealed 2+ white blood cell, nitrite positive and a serum gabapentin level 35.4 ug/mL, normal serum gabapentin reference ranges from 4.0 - 16.0 ug/mL. CT scan of head without contrast was normal, EEG showed generalized mild–moderate slowing and generalized discharges with triphasic morphology, consistent with a diffuse disturbance of cerebral function or encephalopathy secondary to metabolic, toxic, inflammatory, or other systemic processes. No epileptiform discharges or seizures were identified on the recordings. Treatment with IV hydration (IVF) and discontinuation of gabapentin resulted in significant improvement in all of her symptoms within 24 hours. Patient was discharged with normal renal function, BUN 20 mg/dL, creatinine 0.7 mg/dL and resolved myoclonus. Gabapentin was held on discharge.

3. Discussion

Gabapentin is a commonly used AED with analgesic effects that makes it a useful drug for neuropathic pain ¹. Gabapentin is used more often for neuropathic pain than as an AED ². Gabapentin is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with bioavailability reaching 60% ³. The concentration of gabapentin in the brain is usually higher than the plasma gabapentin concentration as it readily crosses the blood brain barrier (BBB), as well as actively being transported across the BBB ^{3, 4}. Excretion of gabapentin depends entirely on renal function as it is neither protein bound in circulation nor metabolized in the body. Its concentration in the body rises as the creatinine clearance falls ^{3, 4}, which makes renal dose adjustments necessary to avoid toxicity. The half-life of gabapentin has been estimated to be 132 hours in patients with end stage renal disease or on non-hemodialysis days as compared with 5 to 7 hours in patients with normal renal function ⁵, thus emphasizing the importance of renal dose adjustments of gabapentin. Our patient was receiving gabapentin 1500 mg/day with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 87 mL/min, a dose appropriate for normal renal function, but upon presentation to hospital, patient’s eGFR was 13 mL/min.

Gabapentin is usually well-tolerated if dose adjusted for renal function; however, several published case reports have described adverse events/effects of gabapentin that include myoclonus, myopathy, neutropenia, hypoglycemia, changes in mental status, drowsiness and coma, occurring more commonly in patients with renal dysfunction ^{6, 7}. Consistent with the symptoms described in these case reports, our patient presented with confusion, increased propensity to fall and myoclonus. In cases of symptomatic toxicity, dialysis is used to rapidly clear the serum of gabapentin. Both intermittent and continuous renal replacement therapy have shown efficacy in treating gabapentin induced myoclonus and neurotoxicity ^{7, 8}. In contrast, our patient’s renal function, myoclonus and mental status improved with IVF, and therefore did not receive any dialysis.

On presentation, our patient had a serum gabapentin level of 35 ug/mL, repeat gabapentin levels were not obtained as the patient was improving clinically. Of note, serum concentrations greater than 15 ug/mL have been shown to be associated with symptomatic toxicity ⁹.

4. Conclusion

1. It is important to educate physicians from various specialties regarding the adverse effects of gabapentin and the necessity of renal dosing as gabapentin is commonly used off label for various indications across multiple specialties.

2. Gabapentin requires renal dosing in patients with chronic kidney disease and those at risk of acute kidney injury. We recommend holding gabapentin while acute illness or dehydration is present, unless used as AED, in which case renal function should be monitored closely.

3. Symptomatic gabapentin toxicity in patients with acute kidney injury requires consultation with a neurologist and nephrologist for appropriate management.

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