Complications of human immunodeficiency virus therapy

Acute dystonia induced by lamivudine

Lamivudine is the most widely prescribed drug of choice for chronic hepatitis B infection, which is a common health problem in China. Generally, the administration of lamivudine has been well tolerated. The authors report two cases of acute dystonic reactions (ADRs) as a side effect of lamivudine. ADR induced by drug treatment can be a side effect of treatment with antipsychotic drugs and other drugs; however, there have been no reports of lamivudine-induced ADR in the English literature. The authors think that although lamivudine is widely used and well tolerated, it can cause ADRs, which are reversible after drug withdrawal.