Ziconotide is a new class of non-opioid analgesic that selectively blocks the neuron-specific (N-type), voltage-gated calcium channels, preventing the release of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide.

A literature search was conducted in September 2015 using Pubmed and Scopus databases. No articles speaking about the direct correlation between ziconotide and amnesia were found.

A 56-year-old female patient, in treatment with ziconotide for chronic phantom pain syndrome, reported amnesia and dysgeusia symptoms. No psychiatric pathologies were diagnosed except for the high anxiety state correlated to the amnesia for recent events. The ziconotide treatment was reduced from 2,4 μg/day to 1,5 μg/day. Clonazepam was prescribed to treat the anxiety state. The subject clinical conditions did not require hospitalization.

It is recommended that patients in treatment with ziconotide be monitored for changes in mood, suicidality ideation, thoughts or consciousness. Ziconotide could have serious neurological or psychiatric signs/symptoms (Table 1). Amnesia is a rare side effect of intrathecal administration of ziconotide. Severe psychiatric adverse effects may require ziconotide discontinuation, treatment with psychotropic agents and/or acute hospitalization.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.