Gefitinib induced convulsions: a rare case report

Authors

  • Atul J. Rajpara Department of Pharmacology, Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India
  • Neeta J. Kanani Department of Pharmacology, Medical College, Baroda, Gujarat, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20164148

Keywords:

Drug induced convulsions, Gefitinib, Rare adverse drug reaction

Abstract

Gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor is used as first-line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer and sometimes also used to treat the other metastatic carcinomas. Diarrhoea and pustular/papular rash occur in ~50% of patients taking gefitinib. Other side effects include dry skin, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, anorexia, and fatigue, but central side effects, especially convulsions are very rare. Here, we report a rare case of 60 years old female patient, a known case of carcinoma uterus with local metastasis and on high dose gefitinib (500 mg/day) treatment for 3 months, who developed generalized tonic-clonic seizure with frothing in mouth and postictal confusion. The dose of suspected medication was reduced to 250 mg/day and patient was given standard care for this adverse drug reaction.

References

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Giaccone G, González-Larriba JL, van Oosterom AT. Combination therapy with gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with advanced solid tumors. Ann Oncol. 2004;15:831-8.

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Published

2016-12-21

How to Cite

Rajpara, A. J., & Kanani, N. J. (2016). Gefitinib induced convulsions: a rare case report. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 5(6), 2692–2693. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20164148