Reactions 1311 - 24 Jul 2010

SCitalopram/escitalopram

Tardive dyskinesias: 3 case reportsThree patients developed tardive dyskinesias during

treatment with citalopram (patient 1) or escitalopram(patients 2 and 3) [routes and dosages not stated].

Patient 1, a 77-year-old man with a history of depressionand anxiety, developed involuntary movements after16 months of treatment with citalopram. Examinationrevealed blepharospasm, oral/buccal/lingual dyskinesias(OBLD), hand stereotypies akathisia and chorea in hislimbs. Citalopram was gradually discontinued. After2 months, he had occasional finger-rubbing and OBLD,and, after 9 months, he had rare tongue-popping and fingerrubbing.

Patient 2, a 43-year-old woman, began receivingescitalopram for anxiety. She developed severe jerkyretrocollis and facial dystonias 6 months later. Hersymptoms persisted despite withdrawal of escitalopram.Her cervical dystonia showed some response to botulinumtoxin injection; additionally, her facial movementsimproved with TBZ [not specified]; however, this waswithdrawn due to severe depression.

Patient 3, an 83-year-old man with depression andcognitive impairment, experienced involuntary movementsof his lower face after receiving escitalopram for18 months. Subsequent examination demonstrated OBLD,parkinsonism and hand stereotypies. Escitalopram wastapered off, and he began receiving venlafaxine. Follow-up1 year later showed improved OBLD, with occasionaltongue-popping, jaw-opening dystonia and finger rubbing.

Author comment: "We report three cases of involuntarymovements with phenomenology indistinguishable fromclassic [tardive dyskinesia], all of which developed afterexposure only to citalopram or escitalopram."Severt WL, et al. Tardive dyskinesias associated with citalopram and escitalopram.14th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders :abstr. 119, 13 Jun 2010. Available from: URL: http://www.movementdisorders.org/congress/congress10 - USA 803027567

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Reactions 24 Jul 2010 No. 13110114-9954/10/1311-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved