PMID: 15244167Jul 13, 2004Paper

Neurotoxic effects of medications: an update

Revue médicale de Liège
M C Arné-Bès

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurotoxic effect of medications. Antineoplastic agents and antiretroviral medications are most often involved: platinum compounds, vinca alkaloids, taxols and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. These agents cause a dose-related axonal polyneuropathy. Symptoms are indicative of a predominantly sensory or sensory-motor neuropathy which in some cases is accompanied by dysfunction of autonomic nervous system. Depending on dosage and agent used symptoms resolve completely or not. Neurotoxic effect can appear immediately during or shortly after administration of the drug but sometimes after cessation of chemotherapy. In all cases the neuropathy alters the quality of life. A general predisposition for developing a neuropathy has been observed in nerves previously damaged by diabetes mellitus, alcohol or in inherited neuropathy. Within the past five years, some cases of neuropathy caused by alpha-interferon, statins or tacrolimus have been reported. Although rare, these aetiologies should be considered by physicians and the drugs removed when others causes of neuropathy have been excluded. Few cases of peripheral neuropathy have been recently reported with metronidazole, dapsone, nitrofurant...Continue Reading

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