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Therapy of myoclonus
1Functional Neurology and Neurosurgery Center, Clínica Quirón, San Sebastian, Spain.
Clinical Neuroscience (New York, N.Y.)
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Treatment for myoclonus depends on its origin. Cortical myoclonus responds well to epilepsy drugs like piracetam and clonazepam. Non-cortical and negative myoclonus treatments are less documented and effective.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Myoclonus, characterized by involuntary muscle jerks, stems from neuronal discharges.
- Treatment strategies are primarily dictated by the pathophysiological source of these discharges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the treatment approaches for various types of myoclonus.
- To highlight the efficacy and limitations of current pharmacological interventions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on myoclonus treatment.
- Analysis of drug efficacy based on myoclonus origin (cortical vs. non-cortical).
Main Results:
- Cortical myoclonus shows the best response to treatment, often managed with epilepsy drugs such as piracetam, clonazepam, sodium valproate, and primidone.
- Non-cortical myoclonus (reticular reflex, spinal) may benefit from serotoninergic drugs and clonazepam, but evidence is limited, leading to variable responses.
- Negative myoclonus (e.g., asterixis) currently lacks specific drug treatments.
Conclusions:
- Treatment of myoclonus requires a targeted approach based on its underlying pathophysiology.
- While effective treatments exist for cortical myoclonus, further research is needed for non-cortical and negative forms.
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