brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Dystonia
Treatment of Dystonia
Correction or elimination of the cause Drugs Sometimes deep brain stimulation Physical therapy Correcting or eliminating the cause of dystonia, if known, usually reduces the spasms. For example, drugs used to treat multiple sclerosis may reduce spasms related to that disease. When dystonia is due to use of an antipsychotic drug, promptly takingdiphenhydramineby injection or by mouth usually stops the spasms quickly, and the antipsychotic is stopped. an Anticholinergic: What Does It Mean? drug (such as If generalized dystonia is severe or does not respond to drugs, deep brain stimulation may be done. For this procedure, tiny electrodes are surgically implanted in the basal ganglia (collections of nerve cells that help initiate and smooth out voluntary muscle movements). The electrodes send small amounts of electricity to the specific area of the basal ganglia that causes dystonia and thus help lessen symptoms. Some people, especially children with dopa-responsive dystonia, improve dramatically when they are treated withlevodopapluscarbidopa. botulinum toxin (a bacterial toxin used to paralyze muscles or to treat wrinkles) is injected into the overactive muscles. Botulinum weakens the muscle contraction but does not affect the nerves. These injections are particularly useful for blepharospasm and spasmodic torticollis. However, injections must be repeated about every 3 to 4 months because botulinum toxin becomes less effective over time. In a few people who are repeatedly given to botulinum injections, the body produces antibodies that inactivate the toxin. If the affected muscles are tiny or deep in the body, Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies (stimulating muscles and recording their electrical activity) may be done to identify the muscles to be injected. Physical therapy helps some people, especially those who are treated with botulinum toxin. 