Anticholinergics for acute dystonia

Anticholinergics for acute dystonia

Acute dystonia warrants immediate treatment since the symptoms can be quite distressing for the patient (and potentially life-threatening if the airways are involved). Anticholinergic drugs are given to try to restore balance in the nigrostriatal tract.

Treatment options include biperiden and dexetimide. The response to these agents is usually immediate. If symptoms do not resolve within 15 to 30 minutes the dose should be repeated.

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For patients with severe dystonic reactions the best treatment is a dexetimide tablet.