Myoclonus and ocular oscillations induced by L-tryptophan.
A patient with chronic manic-depressive illness developed generalized myoclonus and spontaneous ocular oscillations after a single 2 gm dose of L-tryptophan. She had been pretreated with both a tricyclic antidepressant and a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. The involuntary movements gradually disappeared within 24 hours after the drugs were discontinued. Electrooculographic recording 7 hours after onset of the abnormal eye movements revealed square-wave jerks and hypometric voluntary saccades. Pursuit as well as optokinetic and vestibular slow phases were normal except for superimposition of the square-wave jerks. Repeat recording 24 hours later was entirely normal.
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003891:Desipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012438:Saccades / Q000187:drug effects; D014191:Tranylcypromine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014191:Tranylcypromine; D014364:Tryptophan; D003891:Desipramine