AMIODARONE AND ITS NEUROTOXICITIES: A CASE STUDY ON DRUG INDUCED PROXIMAL MYOPATHY

Alina Thomas, Lakshmi R.* and Kevin Reji

ABSTRACT

Amiodarone is an anti-arrhythmic drug widely known for its effectiveness in the management of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Treatment using this drug is often limited to ventricular arrhythmias due to its numerous side effects. Neurotoxicity is one such serious adverse effect of amiodarone in which patients are presented with ataxia, tremor or in rare instances proximal myopathy which is characterised by symmetrical weakness of proximal upper or lower limbs. We report a case of amiodarone-induced proximal myopathy in an adult female with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus who presented with difficulty in walking and progressive weakness after being on amiodarone therapy for atrial fibrillation. The patient’s symptoms resolved with the reduction in amiodarone dose and physiotherapy to further improve mobility and strength.

Keywords: Amiodarone, anti-arrhytmics, atrial fibrillation, proximal myopathy.