Methylphenidate-induced orofacial and extremity dyskinesia

Masked Tardive Dyskinesia in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Era

The universal donning of masks during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to a decreased ability to read people’s facial expressions. In this context, it is prudent to think about how diagnoses can be missed or worsened by the practice of mandatory masking. Here, we report the case of an adolescent white male who presented with new-onset agitation, akathisia, and orofacial dyskinesia in the context of chronic stimulant use for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and antipsychotic use for oppositional defiant disorder.

Unprovoked Dystonic Reaction in a Child Taking Long-Term Methylphenidate

In this report, we discuss the case of a 9-year-old male with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) on long-term methylphenidate and guanfacine who experienced acute orofacial dystonia that resolved immediately with the administration of benztropine. Current literature describes various cases of methylphenidate-induced dystonia, but ours appears to be the first reported instance of spontaneous dystonia without a recent change in dose or medication change. This may suggest the possibility of methylphenidate-induced dystonia spontaneously occurring several years after initiation.

Dyskinesia in Treatment-Naive and Stimulant-Treated Children With ADHD

Objective: Stimulants are safe and effective medications for the treatment of ADHD. There are a number of case studies that report stimulant-induced dyskinesia. The aim of this study was to compare dyskinesia in a treated and a treatment-naive group of children with ADHD, and a healthy control group. Method: Children aged 6 to 18 years were involved in the study (n = 158). Diagnosis of ADHD was measured with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Kid (MINI Kid). Dyskinesia was assessed with the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS). Results: Before methylphenidate administration, the treated ADHD group showed significantly higher AIMS total score than the control group (p = .001) and the treatment-naive ADHD group (p < .001). We found the same pattern 1.5 hr after methylphenidate administration. Conclusion: These results call attention that clinicians should take special care for the possible development of dyskinesia during the treatment of their ADHD patients with methylphenidate.

Effect of Biperiden Treatment in Acute Orofacial and Extremity Dyskinesia With Methylphenidate Therapy

Methylphenidate is a stimulant drug commonly prescribed to individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The suggested underlying mechanism of acute dyskinesias is dopaminergic transmission increase. We describe a 9-year-old boy with a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder admitted to emergency clinic with primarily orofacial and extremity dyskinesia after administration of a first dose of 18 mg OROS (osmotic [controlled] release oral) methylphenidate (Concerta). OROS methylphenidate was discontinued, and the patient's symptoms resolved within 20 minutes after injection of biperiden by intravenous route (0.04 mg/kg). We wish to emphasize that acute orofacial dyskinesia and extremity dyskinesia can be observed during methylphenidate therapy and that biperiden can be successfully used in the treatment of this unpleasant condition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of biperiden therapy in this condition. This case report highlights the importance for physicians of awareness of dyskinesia as a potential adverse effect of methylphenidate therapy and indicates benefit of biperiden therapy.

Neuromotor Adverse Effects in 342 Youth During 12 Weeks of Naturalistic Treatment With 5 Second-Generation Antipsychotics

OBJECTIVE

Second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) effects in youth were monitored to quantify extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) and to identify risk profiles for treatment-emergent EPS.

METHOD

Data were analyzed for the nonrandomized, prospective Second-generation Antipsychotic Treatment Indications, Effectiveness and Tolerability in Youth (SATIETY) inception cohort study. EPS were assessed at baseline and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after naturalistic SGA initiation for schizophrenia, mood, disruptive behavior, and autism spectrum disorders using the Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS), Barnes Akathisia Scale, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), and Treatment Emergent Side Effect Scale. Drug-induced parkinsonism was defined by incident mean SAS score >0.33, anticholinergic initiation, or increasing total SAS score ≥2 in patients with baseline EPS.

RESULTS

In 342 youth aged 13.6 ± 3.5 years (male = 58.2%, antipsychotic-naive = 65.8%), 15.2% developed drug-induced parkinsonism. Raw SGA-grouped drug-induced parkinsonism rates were as follows: quetiapine = 1.5%, olanzapine = 13.8%, risperidone = 16.1%, ziprasidone = 20.0%, and aripiprazole = 27.3%. SGA type, dose, higher age, and lower baseline functioning were jointly associated with drug-induced parkinsonism (R(2) = 0.18; p < .0001). Controlling for these factors, drug-induced parkinsonism rates were significantly lower only for quetiapine and olanzapine. Subjectively reported EPS (5%), EPS-related treatment discontinuation (3.3%), and anticholinergic initiation (3%) were infrequent. Anticholinergic initiation was most frequent with risperidone (10.2%; p = .0004). Treatment-emergent dyskinesia ranged from 4.5% (aripiprazole) to 15.5% (olanzapine). SGA type, younger age, white race/ethnicity, and baseline AIMS were jointly associated with treatment-emergent dyskinesia (R(2) = 0.31; p < .0001). Controlling for these factors, treatment-emergent dyskinesia rates differed among SGA subgroups, with higher rates with olanzapine and ziprasidone. At baseline, psychostimulant use was associated with dyskinesia, and number of psychotropic comedications was associated with subjective EPS.

CONCLUSION

In youth, SGA-related EPS rates did not generally exceed those reported in adults, with particularly low rates with quetiapine and olanzapine.

Iatrogenic neurology

Iatrogenic disease is one of the most frequent causes of hospital admissions and constitutes a growing public health problem. The most common type of iatrogenic neurologic disease is pharmacologic, and the central and peripheral nervous systems are particularly vulnerable. Despite this, iatrogenic disease is generally overlooked as a differential diagnosis among neurologic patients. The clinical picture of pharmacologically mediated iatrogenic neurologic disease can range from mild to fatal. Common and uncommon forms of drug toxicity are comprehensively addressed in this chapter. While the majority of neurologic adverse effects are listed and referenced in the tables, the most relevant issues are further discussed in the text.

Methylphenidate-induced acute orofacial and extremity dyskinesia

Methylphenidate is a short-acting stimulant. In this article, the authors report a 7-year-old male patient who presented with orofacial and limb dyskinesia after his first dose of methylphenidate treatment for a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; he was also receiving sodium valproate treatment for epilepsy. Orofacial dyskinesia appeared 5 hours after methylphenidate administration, persisted for 10 hours, and had completely resolved within 2 days. Although limb dyskinesia after methylphenidate is a commonly reported side effect, to the authors' knowledge this is only the second reported case to develop both orofacial and limb dyskinesia in the acute period after the first dose of methylphenidate. This case is reported to emphasize the potential side effects of methylphenidate, individual differences in drug sensitivities, and drug-receptor interactions via different mechanisms.

Orofacial dyskinesia induced by nasal Ritalin® (methylphenidate) sniffing

Ritalin® (methylphenidate) is an amphetamine-like prescription stimulant commonly used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults. Recently, the recreational use of Ritalin has increased, particularly among young adults. Well-known symptoms of intoxication include signs of sympathetic nervous stimulation, such as agitation, anxiety, tachycardia, hypertension, headache, tremor, and dizziness. This case report describes oral dyskinesia as a rare presentation of Ritalin intoxication, with the review of pathophysiology and some epidemiological data.

Chorea caused by toxins

Chorea is uncommonly caused by toxins. Anecdotal evidence from cases of toxin-induced chorea assists in our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases associated with chorea. Beginning in medieval Europe with ergotism and the "fire that twisted people," spanning to crack dancing in contemporary times and the coexistence of alcohol abuse with chorea, toxins may exert direct effects to enhance mesolimbic dopamine transmission or indirect effects through gamma-aminobutyric acid modulation. The following chapter will discuss toxins associated with chorea and the presumed pathophysiology underlying the movement disorders in these case series.

Methylphenidate treatment and dyskinesia in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

OBJECTIVES

Case reports suggest a relationship between methylphenidate treatment and dyskinesia in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of the current study was (a) to investigate abnormal involuntary movements of children with ADHD before and after the administration of methylphenidate and (b) to investigate the effect of a provocative assessment method used to make latent dyskinesia visible, which is included in the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS).

METHODS

Participants, aged 6-18, were recruited from a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital and Outpatient Clinic (Vadaskert Foundation), Budapest, Hungary. Using a structured diagnostic interview (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Kid), 37 children were included in the ADHD group and 34 children in the control group. The AIMS was used to observe and score dyskinesia.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between the baseline total AIMS score in the ADHD and the control groups, with the ADHD subjects evidencing substantially higher severity than controls. Provocation, as applied with the administration of the AIMS, significantly increased the AIMS total score in both groups. The administration of methylphenidate had no effect on the total score of the AIMS. In the ADHD group, we observed a significant negative relationship between the patients' age and the overall severity on the AIMS. In contrast, in the control group we detected a significant positive relationship between the patients' age and the overall severity on the AIMS before and no relationship after provocation.

CONCLUSIONS

Methylphenidate-treated children with ADHD had more dyskinesia than children in the control group. Dyskinesia did not worsen after a single dose of methylphenidate. Higher dyskinesia scores in the methylphenidate-treated younger age group warrant caution in the methylphenidate treatment of ADHD; however, further studies are needed to clarify the possible causal relationship between dyskinesia and methylphenidate treatment and/or age and/or the disease itself.