Is monoamine oxidase inhibitor induced myoclonus serotoninergically mediated?
In the present study a single case observation of myoclonus during sleep-wave transition was monitored in a depressed patient treated with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, phenelzine. The myoclonus had a rhythm of 1 c/second and lasted for two years, the duration of phenelzine treatment. Myoclonus appeared neither during wakefulness nor during sleep, but at wake-sleep-wake transitions. This "switch" myoclonus was associated with phasic muscle hyperactivity during REM sleep. Methysergide a 5-HT suppressor, decreased the switch myoclonus frequency and the REM muscle hyperactivity, indicating serotoninergic involvement in the mechanism of phenelzine induced myoclonus.
Askenasy
J J
JJ
Department of Neurology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Yahr
M D
MD
D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008784:Methysergide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010624:Phenelzine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology
D012701:Serotonin; D010624:Phenelzine; D008784:Methysergide