Acute and subacute drug-induced movement disorders

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2014 Jan:20 Suppl 1:S108-12. doi: 10.1016/S1353-8020(13)70027-0.

Abstract

Many pharmacological agents may induce a variety of movement disorders, including dystonia, tremor, parkinsonism, myoclonus and dyskinesia, with an acute, subacute or more chronic time course. Motor symptoms may be isolated or part of a more extensive cerebral or systemic condition, such as the neuroleptic malignant syndrome or the serotonin syndrome. Drug-induced movement disorders share a number of features that should make them easy to identify, including a clear temporal relationship between medication initiation and symptom onset, a dose-effect, and, with the exception of tardive syndromes, complete resolution after discontinuation of the offending agent. Diagnosis relies on a thorough medication history. Medications commonly involved include dopamine receptor blockers, antidepressants and anti-epileptics, among many others. Mechanisms underlying drug-induced movement disorders involve blockade, facilitation or imbalance of dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline and cholinergic neurotransmission in the basal ganglia. The present review focuses on drug-induced movement disorders that typically develop as an acute (hours to days) or subacute (days to weeks) event, including acute dystonic reactions, akathisia, drug-induced parkinsonism, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, serotonin syndrome, parkinsonism-hyperpyrexia syndrome, drug-induced tremor, drug-induced hyperkinesias and movement disorders associated with the use of recreational drugs.

Keywords: Acute dystonic reaction; Akathisia; Drug-induced movement disorders; Dyskinesia; Neuroleptic malignant syndrome; Parkinsonism; Serotonin syndrome; Tremor.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Basal Ganglia / metabolism
  • Central Nervous System Agents / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Movement Disorders / etiology*
  • Movement Disorders / pathology
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / metabolism*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Agents
  • Neurotransmitter Agents