Publication:

Gefitinib induced convulsions: a rare case report

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.