Is there a relationship between opioid use and transient global amnesia?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Opioid-associated amnestic syndrome (OAS) and transient global amnesia (TGA) are conditions with clinical overlap. We therefore sought to determine whether opioid use might be associated with TGA. METHODS: Data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Syndromic Surveillance program were queried to ascertain the frequency of opioid use among emergency department (ED) encounters for TGA compared to that for all other ED visits between January 2019 and June 2023. RESULTS: A total of 13,188,630 ED visits were identified during the study period. Of 1417 visits for TGA, one visit met the exposure definition for opioid use. There were 13,187,213 visits for other indications, 57,638 of which were considered opioid-exposed. The odds ratio for the relationship between opioid use and TGA was 0.16 (95% confidence interval 0.02, 1.14). CONCLUSION: Despite the clinical overlap between OAS and TGA, surveillance data from ED visits in Massachusetts do not suggest that opioid use is a risk factor for TGA, indicating that OAS and TGA are distinct entities.

Acute coronary syndrome and transient global amnesia with sumatriptan.

Triptans are potent serotoninergic vasoconstrictors. They are generally avoided in elderly patients age greater than 65 or in patients with a history of CAD. Although there are reported cases of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) or Transient Global Amnesia (TGA) in patients after ingesting therapeutic doses of triptan or dihydroergotamine, this is the first case report, up to our knowledge, of a patient, who had no previous cardiac history, that was diagnosed with both ACS and TGA. A 59-year-old woman with a long-standing history of migraine, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and hypothyroidism, presented to the Emergency Department (ED) complaining of amnesia, chest pain, and left arm numbness after ingesting a single dose of oral sumatriptan approximately 1-2 h prior to arrival. She had no recollection of the events that occurred after taking sumatriptan. No acute laboratory abnormalities were found except for an elevated troponin, which continued to trend upwards. Her EKG had no ST-T wave abnormalities. She was diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), non-ST elevation MI. She had a negative noncontrast CT head. Neurology was consulted for her amnesia and diagnosed her with Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). They recommended discontinuing sumatriptan and beginning topiramate as a prophylactic therapy. There is an increasing number of reports delineating sumatriptan's adverse effects. Emergency medicine physicians should promptly recognize the toxic effects and adverse reactions from triptans. Sumatriptan-induced vasoconstriction may lead to cardiac and cerebral ischemic events.

Transient global amnesia associated with sildenafil use. Report of one case.

A 69 years old male with erectile dysfunction lasting 2 years, took 50 mg of sildenafil for having sex with his wife at about 6 o'clock in the morning. One hour later his wife detected that he had an anterograde memory impairment: this was interpreted as a confusional state. The neurological examination suggested a transient global amnesia (TGA). EEG and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging were non-informative and memory deficits resolved within 24 h. Therefore, a TGA was diagnosed. Since no other trigger was detectable, sildenafil was deemed responsible for its occurrence.

Transient memory impairment and transient global amnesia induced by photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a commonly used and effective treatment option for nonmelanoma skin cancer. Apart from local side-effects such as pain, oedema and erythema, no major adverse events occur in the majority of cases. Here we report on five patients who developed memory deficits such as transient global amnesia immediately after PDT for actinic keratosis. All PDT treatments were performed according to standard therapy protocols. The reported patients had a memory gap for the entire procedure, as well as for the consecutive emergency medical care. Other common neurological causes such as stroke or epileptic seizures were excluded. No focal neurological deficits were detectable. The symptoms had a fairly rapid onset following red-light illumination and were reversible without sequelae within 1-24 h. No correlation of the condition and pain during the illumination could be revealed. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed punctuated lesions in the hippocampus as a potential morphological correlate in one patient. The association between amnestic syndromes and PDT is novel and has not previously been reported. Even though PDT is considered a safe treatment modality, the possibility of neurological adverse events, albeit rare, should be kept in mind.

Transient global amnesia as the presenting feature of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

A 57-year-old man developed transient global amnesia within an hour of bolus unfractionated heparin administration on day 4 post-mitral valve replacement. Both immunoglobulin G-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and serotonin release assay were strongly positive for the antibodies that cause heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The patient's cognitive functions returned to normal following discontinuation of unfractionated heparin and warfarin and commencement of lepirudin infusion.

Positive Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evidence of Transient Global Amnesia Following the Use of Sildenafil.

Transient global amnesia (TGA) has been proposed as a possible adverse effect of sildenafil. There are rare cases in the literature, but none had strong evidence to support. Our case is the first to demonstrate a focal punctate diffusion-weighted imaging lesion at the right hippocampus after the use of sildenafil. This finding, which is suggestive of cytotoxic edema and is typical for TGA, may provide us evidence for the implication of sildenafil in TGA. We speculate that sildenafil may precipitate TGA by altering blood flow, inducing venous congestion or cortical spreading depression at the hippocampus.

Emergency department visits for transient global amnesia alone or in association with substance abuse. / Amnesia global transitoria y consumo de tóxicos que motivan la consulta al servicio de urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: To study the epidemiology of emergency department visits for transient global amnesia (TGA) by itself or associated with substance abuse or sexual assault. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of cases treated from January to December 2018. Data for all patients with TGA were extracted, and cases were classified as associated with substance abuse (TGASUB), sexual assault (TGASEX), or neither (TGAONLY). RESULTS: A total of 287 TGA cases were found: 169 (58.9%) were TGASEX, 62 (21.6%) TGAONLY, and 56 (19.5%) TGASUB. Two hundred eighteen (76%) were female and 69 (24%) were male. Ages ranged from 16 to 90 years; 174 (60.6%) were under the age of 30 years. Two hundred one patients (72.8%) reported consuming alcohol; and 105 (49.1%) were positive on testing (mean blood alcohol concentration, 0.74 g/L; maximum, 3.9 g/L. Twenty patients (7.1%) reported using cannabis, and 39 (17.3%) had positive test results; 14 reported using cocaine (4.9%) and 28 (12.4%) tested positive; 5 (1.7%) reported using amphetamines and 20 (8.8%) tested positive. Fifty-eight (20.1%) had symptoms of intoxication. Four were admitted in coma. A computed tomography scan was ordered for 66 patients (23%), 7 patients were hospitalized, and none died. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of TGA is higher if cases of substance abuse and sexual assault are counted. Toxicolgy testing changes the epidemiology of TGA in emergencies.

OBJETIVO: Conocer la epidemiología de las consultas en urgencias por amnesia global transitoria (AGT), ya sea pura, asociada al consumo de tóxicos o en el contexto de una agresión sexual. METODO: Estudio retrospectivo de enero a diciembre de 2018. Se revisaron las AGT atendidas en intoxicados (AGTtox), en víctimas de agresiones sexuales (AGTsex) y las amnesias puras (AGTpur), evaluando la presencia de tóxicos. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 287 AGT: 169 AGTsex (58,9%), 62 AGTpur (21,6%) y 56 AGTtox (19,5%). De ellas, 218 (76%) fueron mujeres y la edad osciló entre 16 y 90 años (60,6% menores de 30 años). Reconocieron consumo de alcohol 201 casos (72,8%), con etanolemia positiva en 105 (49,1%) (media de 0,74 g/l y máxima de 3,9 g/l). Admitieron consumo de cannabis 20 pacientes (7,1%), con analítica positiva en 39 casos (17,3%); cocaína 14 (4,9%), con analítica positiva en 28 (12,4%), y anfetaminas 5 (1,7%), con analítica positiva en 20 (8,8%). Presentaron síntomas de intoxicación 58 casos (20,1%). Cuatro pacientes ingresaron en coma. Se realizó una tomografía computarizada (TC) craneal a 66 pacientes (23%), se hospitalizaron 7 y no hubo ningún fallecimiento. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de AGT es mayor si se incluyen los intoxicados y las agresiones sexuales, modificando la determinación de tóxicos la epidemiología de la AGT en urgencias.

Transient global amnesia associated with the infusion of DMSO-cryopreserved autologous peripheral blood stem cells.

Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is a solvent commonly used for the cryopreservation of autologous peripheral blood stem cells (APBSC). Side effects upon infusion of DMSO-cryopreserved APBSC mainly consist of nausea, emesis, chills, rigors, and cardiovascular events, such as bradyarrhythmia or hypotension. We report the case of a patient who received DMSO-cryopreserved APBSC after myeloablative chemotherapy for a relapsing lymphoma. The patient developed a rare reaction during the infusion manifesting as transient global amnesia. The clinical course during the reaction is described and an explanation of the possible causes is discussed. This observation underlines the need for an adequate DMSO depletion to limit neurotoxicity or other adverse manifestations.

Transient global amnesia after intake of tadalafil, a PDE-5 inhibitor: a possible association?

Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) are well established as an oral treatment for the majority of patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). PDE-5 is found in high concentration in smooth muscle cells of the corpora cavernosa. However, enzymes of the PDE family are also expressed in various other tissues, including the brain. Little is known about its effects on the central nervous system (CNS), although it has been suggested that PDE-5 inhibitors might cross the blood-brain barrier. Side effects, such as headache, nasal congestion, flushing, nausea, are much more common. We describe a patient who had a transient global amnesia (TGA) after his first-ever use of tadalafil, a potent PDE-5 inhibitor. Despite the fact that the aetiology of TGA has not entirely been clarified at present, we consider the hypothesis of a causal relationship as tempting with respect to the current hypotheses of TGA pathophysiology. This case, together with others, suggests that PDE-5 inhibitors might be capable of exerting adverse effects in the CNS. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of neurological disturbances when prescribing PDE-5 inhibitors for ED.

The effect of calcineurin activator, extracted from Chinese herbal medicine, on memory and immunity in mice.

Calcineurin (CN) is a highly abundant phosphatase in the brain and it is the only Ca(2+)- and calmodulin-dependent protein serine/threonine phosphatase. There is considerable evidence to suggest that CN plays an essential role in activity-dependent modulation of synaptic efficacy. It has been shown recently that inhibitors of CN, such as CsA or FK506, impair memory formation in day-old chicks. In our present study, extract of Fructus cannabis (EFC) with activation of CN, extracted from Chinese traditional medicine, was used to determine the effects on memory and immunity. In the step-down-type passive avoidance test, the plant extract (0.2 g/kg) significantly improved amnesia induced by chemical drugs in mice, and greatly enhanced the ability of cell-mediated type hypersensitivity and nonspecific immune responses in normal mice. The present study provided pharmacological evidence for Chinese herbal medicine screening from molecular model.

[Transient global amnesia following the use of ergots in the treatment of migraine]. / Amnesia global transitoria tras el uso de ergóticos en la migraña.

INTRODUCTION: Transient global amnesia (TGA) is defined as a selective, or almost selective, deficit of the memory that appears suddenly and lasts less than 24 hours. The aetiopathogenesis of this syndrome remains unknown and different theories have been put forward about its epileptic or ischemic origin, or the relationship that exists with the neuronal depression that is produced in migraine. A number of triggering factors have been described, including the taking of distinct pharmaceutical preparations. CASE REPORT: We report the cases of two patients with a history of migraines who suffered TGA after taking ergotamine and dihydroergotamine, respectively, to treat an attack of migraine. CONCLUSIONS: Given the vasoconstriction effect of these drugs, it was concluded that in both cases the main factor that triggered the TGA was the ingestion of ergots.

RETRACTED: I do not even remember what I smoked! A case of marijuana-induced transient global amnesia.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the editor as it is a duplicate of a paper that has already been published in JSciMed Central, JSM Clinical Case Reports: Mansou G, Tantoush H, Abuzaid A, Al Ashry H, Bellamkonda P. Marijuana Induced Transient Global Amnesia: JSM Clin Case Rep 2(4): 1043. One of the conditions of submission of a paper for publication is that authors declare explicitly that the paper has not been previously published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. A longer version of this case report was published on March 10, 2014, by J Sci Med Central, 3 months before three of the original authors submitted it to AJM. As such this article represents a severe abuse of the scientific publishing system. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and we apologize to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the submission process. Joseph S. Alpert, MD, Editor in Chief, The American Journal of Medicine

Transient global amnesia associated with sildenafil use: report of one case / Amnesia global transitoria asociada al uso de sildenafil: informe de un caso

ABSTRACT A 69 years old male with erectile dysfunction lasting 2 years, took 50 mg of sildenafil for having sex with his wife at about 6 o'clock in the morning. One hour later his wife detected that he had an anterograde memory impairment: this was interpreted as a confusional state. The neurological examination suggested a transient global amnesia (TGA). EEG and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging were non-informative and memory deficits resolved within 24 h. Therefore, a TGA was diagnosed. Since no other trigger was detectable, sildenafil was deemed responsible for its occurrence,

Se reporta el caso de un individuo de sexo masculino de 69 años con disfunción eréctil, que ingiere 50 mg de sildenafil con objetivo de facilitar el mantener relaciones sexuales con su esposa. Una hora después, su esposa nota que su marido presenta una alteración de su memoria anterógrada, lo que fue interpretado como un estado confusional. Evaluado clínicamente su examen neurológico es sugerente de una amnesia transitoria anterógrada. El EEG y las imágenes por resonancia magnética no muestran hallazgos significativos y el déficit de memoria remite dentro de 24 h. en vista de su evolución, se diagnostica una amnesia global transitoria. Como no se identifica otro gatillante, se consideró que el cuadro fue causado por sildenafil..

Transient global amnesia-like episode due to mistaken intake of zolpidem: drug safety concern in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic insomnia is a common phenomenon among the elderly. Inaccurate handling and use of hypnotics in the elderly has become an important issue in patient safety. Older people who self-medicate often have a high risk for medication errors. METHODS AND RESULTS: We described here the case of a 65-year-old woman who experienced recurrent transient anterograde amnesia, anxiety, bewilderment, and repetitive questioning that lasted for 2 to 3 hours after erroneously taking zolpidem. This mistake was due to the similarity in appearance between zolpidem and her newly prescribed anticholesterol drug, ezetimibe. CONCLUSIONS: History of medication, particularly as regards hypnotics, should be carefully reviewed when a patient presents with transient global amnesia-like symptoms. The inadvertent use of drugs may be an underrecognized phenomenon among the elderly who self-medicate. When prescribing a new drug to elderly patients, especially hypnotics, physicians and pharmacists should educate them and their families about the proper use of these medications for their own safety.