Acute dystonia is a temporary condition causing involuntary muscle spasms and a hunched or twisted posture, often caused by antipsychotic drugs. Primary dystonia is a genetic neurological disorder with no cure. Anticholinergic drugs can treat acute dystonia, and men with a family history are more likely to experience it.
Acute dystonia, also known as acute dystonic reaction, is a condition that causes involuntary muscle spasms and a hunched or twisted posture. It is generally a side effect of antipsychotic drugs that are used to treat various psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and the mania associated with bipolar disorder. Acute dystonia is thought to be caused by agents in the drug that block the release of dopamine in the brain.
Primary dystonia is a neurological disorder in which a person experiences constant muscle spasms. It is thought to be caused by faulty signals from the brain to the muscles. Primary dystonia is genetic and has no cure. An acute dystonic reaction is a temporary and treatable version of the disorder and is caused by the use of specific drugs.
The main symptoms of acute dystonia are sudden muscle spasms in the face, neck, back and limbs after taking antipsychotic drugs. It can also cause pain in the neck, jaw and tongue. In rare cases, a person may have difficulty speaking, abnormal eye twitching, or trouble seeing.
Antipsychotic drugs, such as clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and ziprasidone manage the symptoms of psychotic disorders but cannot cure them. The drug works by blocking dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that sends signals to nerve cells. Dopamine blockade can reduce visual and auditory hallucinations and paranoia. Dopamine blocking agents can interfere with the ability of nerve cells to receive brain signals correctly and can cause muscle spasms; however, there is no conclusive evidence as to why this happens. Acute dystonia tends to occur when the level of antipsychotic drugs in the blood begins to fall, rather than when it is at higher levels in the blood.
Antiemetic drugs, such as metoclopramide, droperidol and domperidone, can also cause acute dystonia in rare cases. The drug is generally used to treat motion sickness or nausea. Some varieties of the drug may use dopamine blocking agents to reduce feelings of nausea; however, the condition tends to be more commonly associated with antipsychotic medications.
Acute dystonia can be treated with anticholinergic drugs. These drugs block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating the muscular system. It is generally taken for a day or two after the reaction occurs. The antipsychotic drug that contributed to the reaction may be stopped or replaced with a lower potency.
It is believed that men taking antipsychotic drugs are more likely than women to have an acute dystonic reaction. The reaction is thought to be genetic, so those with a family history are more likely to experience it. Cocaine use and liver dysfunction can also increase the likelihood of dystonia.
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