Related Experiment Videos
Acute generalized myoclonus following buspirone administration
E C Ritchie1, R H Bridenbaugh, B Jabbari
1Department of Psychiatry, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20307-5001.
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|June 1, 1988
Summary
Buspirone can induce severe movement disorders like myoclonus and dystonia in patients with complex medical histories. Clonazepam effectively resolved these buspirone-induced neurological side effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- A 62-year-old female patient with multiple comorbidities including congestive heart failure, mitral stenosis, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, and chronic renal failure.
- A history of anxiety and depression, managed with buspirone.
- Recent cerebral lacunar infarction.
Observation:
- The patient developed acute onset of myoclonus, dystonia, and akathisia approximately 12 hours after initiating buspirone therapy.
- Initial treatment with diphenhydramine and benztropine provided minimal relief.
Findings:
- Buspirone administration precipitated severe extrapyramidal symptoms in a patient with significant cardiovascular and renal compromise.
- Clonazepam administration resulted in complete resolution of myoclonus and dystonia.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for buspirone to induce serious movement disorders, particularly in vulnerable patient populations.
- Suggests clonazepam as a potential therapeutic option for managing buspirone-induced movement abnormalities.
- Emphasizes the importance of careful medication monitoring in patients with complex medical histories.