title: [Acute dystonia].
abstract: Acute dystonia is a side effect of antipsychotic medication; it nearly always develops a few weeks after the start of a dopamine-blocking agent or substantial increase of the dosage. Acute dystonia is characterized as a syndrome of sustained muscle contractions, frequently causing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The risk of acute dystonia depends greatly on the presence of risk factors: early age, male sex, use of cocaine, a history of acute dystonia, and use of a highly potent antipsychotic agent in a normal dosage. The mechanism underlying acute dystonia is unknown: both increase and decrease of the striatal dopamine transmission have been put forward as possible causes. Acute dystonia may also be caused by dopamine-blocking agents that are used not as antipsychotic medication but, for instance, as anti-emetics. Anticholinergic agents are extremely efficacious in treatment as well as prevention of acute dystonia. Prophylaxis of acute dystonia is indicated for patients belonging to the risk groups.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrisch Centrum Welterhof, Heerlen.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Van Harten
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004421:Dystonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists