Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Associated With Bradycardia and syncope—a Case Report

Abstract

We describe a case of 76-year-old woman with glossopharyngeal neuralgia who developed bradycardia and syncope after decreased carbamazepine dosing due to worsening renal function. Telemetry and EKG showed bradycardia and sinus pauses associated with paroxysms of typical glossopharyngeal neuralgia pain. With the addition of gabapentin to carbamazepine, her glossopharyngeal neuralgia pain as well as bradycardia resolved. A pacemaker was placed to prevent bradycardia and syncope. Clinicians should be mindful of the association between glossopharyngeal neuralgia and bradycardia and cardiac syncope so appropriate treatment can be offered in a timely manner to prevent adverse outcomes associated with syncope and cardiac arrest.