[Cerebellar syndrome caused by amiodarone]

Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 1994 Dec;52(4):575-7. doi: 10.1590/s0004-282x1994000400021.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Amidarone (AMD) is an antiarrhythmic drug with side effects on the nervous system. Cerebellum is seldom involved: We describe the case of a 56 years old male patient with a history of 4 month of cerebellar involvement characterized by gait unsteadiness, ataxia, nistagmus and vertigo. He was on treatment with AMD because of ventricular arrythmia. The cerebellar syndrome progressively disappeared after drug withdrawal and he was symptoms-free 4 months later. Similar symptoms appeared after another one month of automedication with the same drug. Structural lesions, metabolic, nutritional deficiencies or toxics were excluded. Mechanisms of cerebellar toxicity of AMD are yet unknown. The knowledge of the toxic effects of this drug, widely used in our country, would allow its early recognition.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Amiodarone / administration & dosage
  • Amiodarone / adverse effects*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / drug therapy
  • Cerebellar Ataxia / chemically induced*
  • Cerebellar Ataxia / diagnosis
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Amiodarone