Mexiletine for the Treatment of Focal Dystonia

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE (NINDS) · Nov 3, 1999

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Dystonia is a complex neurological disorder with an unknown pathogenesis likely involving the basal ganglia. There is no adequate treatment for dystonia. Recent studies using intramuscular and intravenous lidocaine have shown improvement in dystonic movements. It has been proposed that patients with dystonia have reduced presynaptic inhibition of alpha motoneurons leading to overactivation in response to movement. This may also reflect a hyperexcitability at the cortical level, which can be reduced by altering peripheral input.

Mexiletine, an antiarrhythmic similar to lidocaine, but availa...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • Patients with focal dystonia, specifically writer's cramp and blepharospasm, will be eligible for study.
• • Patients will need medical clearance, specifically, cardiac clearance, by their primary care physician. This will include an EKG within the past 12 months and no history of underlying cardiac disease.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • Patients with any of the following conditions will be excluded from the study: structural brain lesions, identifiable etiology for dystonia (such as stroke, trauma, Parkinson's Disease, Wilson's Disease, or peripheral neuropathy), contractures or fixed joint deformities, current or past use of neuroleptics, seizures, prior neurosurgery, or co-existent neurologic or general medical illness, including history of cardiovascular disease or peptic ulcer disease and pregnant or breast-feeding women.
• • Patients who are taking or have taken mexiletine will be excluded as well.