Methamphetamine psychosis in which tardive dystonia was successfully treated with clonazepam

Abstract

Reported herein is a case of methamphetamine psychosis in which tardive dystonia was treated successfully with clonazepam.The patient was a 69-year-old man who had taken methamphetamine habitually for approximately 40 years. Auditory hallucinations had developed 25 years previously, for which haloperidol had been prescribed. Tardive dystonia had developed in December 2005.Haloperidol was withdrawn and risperidone or olanzapine alone had been administered, but neither had improved the dystonic posture. However, when clonazepam was added, a gradual improvement in the dystonic posture became evident. Tardive dystonia is currently treated on a trial-and-error basis. Accumulation of further cases similar to the present one is very important for establishing an effective treatment.

Tardive Dyskinesia-like Syndrome Due to Drugs that do not Block Dopamine Receptors: Rare or Non-existent: Literature Review

“…Reports of TD caused by antihistamines,72–74 anticholinergics,75–77 and amphetamines78 suffer from the same shortcomings as described for those caused by antidepressants. In a report of two cases of orofacial dyskinesias and the use of antihistaminic decongestants, one case had been exposed to fluphenazine and the other to bultalbital and chlordiazepoxide 72.…”

Dystonia Secondary to Use of Antipsychotic Agents

“…Benzodiazepines may also exert some benefits in patients with tardive dystonia. Yamamoto et al (2007) reported a case of methamphetamine psychosis in which tardive dystonia was successfully treated with clonazepam. Treatment with dantrolene sodium is reserved for alternative situations in cases where clonazepam is not effective (Otsuki et al, 1991).…”

Stimulant use disorders and psychosis: prevalence, correlates and impacts

“…South East Asian countries have high rates of methamphetamine use and researchers from these countries have contributed many of the studies examining the familial, genetic and pharmacological characteristics of methamphetamine-related psychoses (Bousman et al, 2009). Most of these studies use a diagnostic construct of "Methamphetamine Psychosis", which is seen as including both acute and transient psychotic states (Kittirattanapaiboon et al, 2010) and psychosis which persists or recurs despite abstinence from stimulants (Sato et al, 1992;Suzuki et al, 2006;Yamamoto et al, 2007;Yui et al, 2000a).…”