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Myoclonic seizures are brief contractions or relaxations of muscles that can be a symptom of neurological disorders or caused by sleep disturbances, infections, drug poisoning, or injuries. They can be treated with medications, but some types can be more severe than others.
Seizures or myoclonic contractions are brief contractions, or relaxations, of a muscle or muscle group, causing a sudden, jittery movement. Positive myoclonus is characterized by muscle contraction and negative myoclonus by sudden muscle relaxation. They can be a symptom of the disease, especially if they recur, but they can also be nothing to worry about. Many neurological disorders, including epilepsy, are capable of causing such seizures.
Most people have experienced these seizures of some form. Hiccups are a myoclonic seizure of the diaphragm muscle, for example. People also commonly experience something called a “hypnic jerk” just before falling asleep, and such instances are no cause for alarm.
Myoclonic seizures are a common symptom of a variety of neurological disorders, including myoclonic epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Alzheimer’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), lupus, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. In addition, they can be the result of sleep disturbances, infections, drug poisoning or side effects, or injuries to the head or spinal cord. In rare cases, lesions of the peripheral nervous system may also develop. Brain tumors, strokes, and kidney or liver failure can also produce such seizures. Hypoxia, prolonged oxygen deprivation to the brain, is another possible trigger.
There are different types of myoclonic seizures, and some are more severe than others. Myoclonic action, sometimes considered the most severe form, is caused by brain damage, and is characterized by muscle contractions accompanying the intent or attempt to move voluntarily. Stimulus-sensitive myoclonus causes a seizure triggered by noise, light, or sound. Other types have no apparent trigger and can even occur during sleep. Many types of myoclonus, such as palatal myoclonus, which affects the soft palate and facial muscles, are limited to a certain area of the body.
These seizures are not life-threatening, but they can be debilitating to some extent and can be a sign of a more serious condition. They are usually treated with medications, such as the benzodiazepine clonazepam, although these drugs can lose their effectiveness with prolonged use and have side effects, including drowsiness and loss of coordination. Epilepsy medications, such as barbiturates and antiepileptics such as primidone, can also be effective and work by slowing down the central nervous system. Sometimes, certain combinations of drugs are more helpful, as such seizures can have complex causes.
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