Probable dystonic reaction after a single dose of cyclizine in a patient with a history of encephalitis

✍ Scribed by H. King; P. Corry; T. Wauchob; P. Barclay

• Book ID: 104456930
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 58 KB
• Volume: 58
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2409
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.03038.x

✦ Synopsis

Summary A patient underwent an emergency Caesarean section under general anaesthesia for an antepartum haemorrhage. Following delivery of a live infant, cyclizine was administered in accordance with departmental anti‐emetic protocol. On awakening she was confused, slow to articulate and had slurred speech. A computed tomography (CT) scan, which was performed to exclude an intracranial event, was normal. Her symptoms were suggestive of a lingual–facial–buccal dyskinesia as seen with dopamine antagonists. A presumptive diagnosis of a dystonic reaction to cyclizine was made. She received two doses of procyclidine before her symptoms completely resolved. Cyclizine has had a resurgence in popularity owing to the recent withdrawal of droperidol and anaesthetists should be aware that, although extremely rare, dystonic reactions may occur with this agent.