A Case of Meige Syndrome in a Pediatric Patient With Schizophrenia

Long-term treatment with multiple antipsychotic medications for schizophrenia may increase the risk of developing tardive dystonia, including Meige syndrome. Although clozapine has been suggested as a way of improving dystonia symptoms, there is no established consensus regarding its use in pediatric patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, and careful consideration is required. A 12-year-old boy with schizophrenia experienced blepharospasm and oromandibular twitching while undergoing treatment with multiple antipsychotic medications. We stopped giving him the same medications that had been used during his previous hospitalizations (risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole, lurasidone, and paliperidone, paliperidone palmitate (a long-acting injectable), asenapine, and blonanserin). We then started giving him clozapine, gradually increasing the dose to 125 mg. Following this treatment intervention, the dystonic symptoms resolved completely, and the psychiatric symptoms stabilized.