Chin Tremors Associated with Paroxetine in a Patient with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

  • Preethi John Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts Medical Center. Boston, MA, USA
  • Kathleen McConnell Division of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center. Boston, MA, USA
  • Muhammad Wasif Saif Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts Medical Center. Boston, MA, USA
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6092/1590-8577/1908
Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Pancreatic Neoplasms, Paroxetine, Tremor

Abstract

Context There have been many cases of medication-induced tremors. We report a patient who developed significant chin tremors after the administration of paroxetine. Case report A 68-year-old Vietnamese female with a past medical history including GIST and pancreatic cancer status post Whipple procedure and six months of adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine presented with symptoms of anxiety for which she was treated with paroxetine. Within 2 weeks she developed chin tremors which resolved after paroxetine was discontinued. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a temporary chin tremor associated with paroxetine. The exact mechanism of this phenomenon is unclear. However, it has been suggested that movement disorders such as chin tremors may be related to elevated serotonin levels causing an inhibition of central dopamine.

Image: Statue of Jumbo (Tufts University's official mascot) on the north side of Barnum Hall at Tufts University campus. Medford, MA, USA.

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Author Biographies

Preethi John, Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts Medical Center. Boston, MA, USA

Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

Kathleen McConnell, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center. Boston, MA, USA
Division of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Muhammad Wasif Saif, Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts Medical Center. Boston, MA, USA

Division of Hematology and Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

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Statue of Jumbo (Tufts University's official mascot) on the north side of Barnum Hall at Tufts University campus
Published
2013-11-10
How to Cite
JohnP., McConnellK., & SaifM. (2013). Chin Tremors Associated with Paroxetine in a Patient with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. JOP. Journal of the Pancreas, 14(6), 661-663. https://doi.org/10.6092/1590-8577/1908
Issue
Vol 14 No 6 (2013): November - p. 603-693
Section
CASE REPORTS

Copyright (c) 2014 Preethi John, Kathleen McConnell, Muhammad Wasif Saif

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