Successful Treatment of Posthypoxic Action Myoclonus With Carbamazepine

Abstract

A patient had action myoclonus resulting from an episode of acute hypoxia. This incapacitating, abnormal movement disorder has been found highly resistant to treatment with a wide spectrum of drugs, but therapeutic success was achieved after carbamazepine was added to a previously ineffective drug regimen. Although this drug is marketed in the United States exclusively for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, the present report suggests that further trials in cases of action myoclonus are indicated.