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Case Reports
. 2021 Dec 20;13(12):e20541.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.20541. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Unmasking of Myasthenia Gravis After Introduction of Oral Risperidone in a Schizophrenic Saudi Male: A Case Report

Lamees Abualkhair  1 , Ahmad Almaghrabi  2 , Nada Al Edrees  3 , Ahmed Hassab Errasoul  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Unmasking of Myasthenia Gravis After Introduction of Oral Risperidone in a Schizophrenic Saudi Male: A Case Report

Lamees Abualkhair et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that affects the neuromuscular junction. It causes generalized muscle weakness that may include the respiratory muscles, potentially leading to a medical emergency known as a myasthenic crisis. This is a case report of a rare incident of a myasthenia gravis exacerbation after administration of the oral antipsychotic risperidone to a schizophrenic patient. Few similar cases have been reported. Although rare, such incidents are dangerous as physicians could easily confuse myasthenia gravis symptoms with extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotics. This concern should be addressed not just with risperidone but rather with any other antipsychotics that exhibit anticholinergic side effects.

Keywords: adverse effects; antipsychotics; extrapyramidal side effects; myasthenia gravis; myasthenic exacerbation; risperidone; schizophrenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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