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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Measurement & Analysis of the Temporal Discrimination Threshold Applied to Cervical Dystonia
Published on: January 27, 2018
Diphenhydramine is effective in the treatment of idiopathic dystonia
D D Truong1, P Sandroni, S van den Noort
1Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, USA.
Objective:
To assess the effectiveness of diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl) in the treatment of patients with idiopathic truncal dystonia.
Design:
Before-and-after trial.
Setting:
University referral center.
Patients:
Five consecutive patients with idiopathic truncal dystonia who were poorly treated with conventional pharmacotherapies. No patients were withdrawn from the trial for adverse side effects.
Interventions:
Treatments with diphenhydramine hydrochloride (50 mg intravenously or up to 500 mg/kg orally). Follow-up for up to 20 months.
Main Outcome Measure:
Dystonia evaluation.
Results:
Diphenhydramine therapy was associated with minimal side effects, and it was most effective in treating patients with dystonia who experienced lightning jerks. Treatment with intravenous diphenhydramine may have a predictive value on a future response to oral therapy.
Conclusion:
Diphenhydramine should be considered a therapeutic option for idiopathic truncal dystonia with lightning jerks.
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