Grand Mal Seizure in a Child 30 Minutes After Cyclogyl (Cyclopentolate Hydrochloride) and 10% Neo-Synephrine (Phenylephrine Hydrochloride) Eye Drops Were Instilled

Abstract

A grand mal seizure is an unexpected, rare adverse event in a child receiving eye drops to dilate the pupils for an eye examination. A case is reported of a convulsion in a 23-month-old boy after he received Cyclogyl (cyclopentolate) and Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine) eye drops before ophthalmoscopy. His serum sodium was 125 mEq/L, and he had low plasma pseudocholinesterase activity. Children exposed to organophosphate insecticides and other pseudocholinesterase inhibitors may be at risk for cyclopentolate toxicity.