Background:
Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a common finding in individuals with
progressive neurological disease. Not only are some of these individuals
are more susceptible to iatrogenic causes, but they are also exposed to
certain medications that may impair oropharyngeal coordination.
Certain antiepileptic drugs are documented to cause swallowing
difficulties even though their effects on the nervous system do not
typically cause oropharyngeal dysfunction. A study on iatrogenic causes
of oropharyngeal dysphagia stated that antiseizure medications such as
valproic acid, carbamazepine, and phenytoin should be used cautiously in
patients at risk for dysphagia from underlying neurologic disease (1).
Carbamazepine has been described to decrease awareness and voluntary
muscle control that may affect swallowing. This is a case report about a
patient who presented with oropharyngeal dysphagia that improved
significantly after discontinuation of carbamazepine.