title: Successful Treatment of Paroxysmal Movement Disorders of Infancy With Dimenhydrinate and Diphenhydramine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paroxysmal movement disorders including paroxysmal tonic upward gaze of infancy and paroxysmal dystonia of infancy are benign but uncommon movement disorders seen in young children. Although symptoms are intermittent and resolve spontaneously, they can cause discomfort and distress for the child. Current treatment options are limited to dopaminergic agents or anticonvulsants with limited efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors present a child with paroxysmal tonic upward gaze of infancy and another with paroxysmal dystonia of infancy, both of whom responded successfully to treatment with low-dose dimenhydrinate or diphenhydramine, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dimenhydrinate and diphenhydramine both exert anticholinergic activity and have limited toxicity at low doses. This property makes either compound an attractive therapeutic option for paroxysmal movement disorders in infancy. These agents are generally well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Medical Education Program, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sawicka
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Helly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goez
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada. Electronic address: dr.huntsman@usask.ca.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Huntsman
mesh_terms: D004111:Dimenhydrinate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D004155:Diphenhydramine; D004111:Dimenhydrinate
keywords: benign paroxysmal tonic upward gaze of infancy; dimenhydrinate; diphenhydramine; transient paroxysmal dystonia of infancy