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Treatment of myoclonus focuses on medications that may help reduce symptoms. Drugs used include sodium valproate, clonazepam, the anticonvulsant levetiracetam, and piracetam. [8] Dosages of clonazepam usually are increased gradually until the patient improves or side effects become harmful. Drowsiness and loss of coordination are common side ...
Myoclonus is usually classified physiologically to optimize treatment. Myoclonus is a precursor effect to myoclonus dystonia and most commonly begins in childhood or adolescence. [4] [5] Myoclonus is classified as cortical, subcortical, peripheral or spinal. Cortical myoclonus is the most common of these four and affects the upper limbs and face.
Symptoms often include action or stimuli induced myoclonus, seizures, neuropathy, cognitive decline, and spike and wave or no cerebral discharges. [4] The prognosis of those diagnosed with PME is poor. The person often becomes reliant on a wheelchair, enters a vegetative state due to myoclonus, and has a shortened life expectancy. [4] [3]
Progressive myoclonus epilepsy is a disease associated with myoclonus, epileptic seizures, and other problems with walking or speaking. These symptoms often worsen over time and can be fatal. [6] MERRF syndrome is also known as myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers. This rare inherited disorder affects muscles cells. [7]
Epilepsy with myoclonic-astatic seizures has a variable course and outcome. Spontaneous remission with normal development has been observed in a few untreated cases. Complete seizure control can be achieved in about half of the cases with antiepileptic drug treatment (Doose and Baier 1987b; Dulac et al. 1990).
Patients typically present to medical providers following their first generalized tonic–clonic seizure, by which time they have often had myoclonus for several years. The first generalized tonic–clonic seizure usually occurs in the context of a particular provoking factor, such as sleep deprivation, stress or alcohol consumption. [ 15 ]
The side-effects profile varies for different patient populations. [50] Overall adverse effects in treatment are similar between men, women, geriatric, pediatric, and racial groups. [5] Lamotrigine has been associated with a decrease in white blood cell count . [53] Lamotrigine does not prolong QT/QTc in TQT studies in healthy subjects. [54]
Almost all treatments have negative side-effects and risks. A geste antagoniste is a physical gesture or position (such as touching one's chin) that temporarily interrupts dystonia, it is also known as a sensory trick. [26] Patients may be aware of the presence of a geste antagoniste that provides some relief. [27]