Restless Genital Syndrome Induced by Milnacipran

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2018 May/Jun;41(3):109-110. doi: 10.1097/WNF.0000000000000279.

Abstract

Objectives: Restless genital syndrome (RGS) includes discomfort, pain, numbness, vibration, restlessness, or a burning sensation involving the vagina, perineum, pelvis, penis, and proximal portion of the lower limbs in patients. The RGS has been sometimes reported in Parkinson disease. In patients without Parkinson disease, RGS is also known as persistent genital arousal disorder (PSAS), which includes uncontrollable genital arousal, with or without orgasm or genital engorgement, unrelated to sexual desire. Although withdrawal from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors antidepressants is reported to induce PSAS, there is no report of RGS or PSAS induced by antidepressants.

Methods: We obtained the consent for the presentation and have not identified individuals for ethical reasons.

Results: We first report a woman patient with depression induced RGS by milnacipran (MLN).

Conclusions: We discuss the relationship with restless legs syndrome and the difference from akathisia. It is highly possible MLN affected her RGS because she experienced RGS for the first time after the dose of MLN was increased. A limitation of this report is that we stopped MLN and administered gabapentin enacarbil immediately. We should join MLN to the list of compounds suspected of inducing RGS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antidepressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Cyclopropanes / adverse effects*
  • Depression / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Genital Diseases, Female / chemically induced*
  • Genital Diseases, Female / complications
  • Humans
  • Libido / drug effects
  • Milnacipran
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / chemically induced*
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / complications

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Cyclopropanes
  • Milnacipran