Myoclonus is a term used to describe the jerking or twitching of a muscle. Healthy people experience myoclonus on a regular basis and it can also be the symptom of an underlying medical condition which requires medical attention. This involuntary muscle movement can take a wide variety of forms, appearing in any muscle in the body at any time, depending on the underlying cause of the myoclonus.

What is the prognosis?

Simple forms of myoclonus occur in normal, healthy persons and cause no difficulties. In some cases, myoclonus begins in one region of the body and spreads to muscles in other areas. More severe cases of myoclonus can distort movement and severely limit a person's ability to eat, talk, or walk. These types of myoclonus may indicate an underlying disorder in the brain or nerves. Although clonazepam and sodium valproate are effective in the majority of people with myoclonus, some people have adverse reactions to these drugs. The beneficial effects of clonazepam may diminish over time if the individual develops a tolerance for the drug.

Some examples of normal myoclonus include hypnic jerks, which often happen as people are falling asleep, and hiccups. This type of myoclonus is not a cause for concern, although it can be startling or irritating. People can also experience random twitches and muscle spasms which are not associated with a medical issue. An athlete, for example, might twitch after a heavy workout, and sometimes the nervous system experiences a random glitch which generates a twitch for no apparent reason.

In people with nervous system disorders, myoclonus can sometimes be a tell-tale symptom. Conditions like head trauma, brain damage, and progressive neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy may have myoclonic jerks among their symptoms, as can a range of other neurological problems. Muscle twitches are also associated with kidney, liver, and heart problems. Abnormal myoclonus tends to appear at greater frequency, with more intensity, or at unusual times, and it may involve a series of muscle spasms, rather than a single twitch or jerk.

When twitching or jerking develops suddenly or feels abnormal, patients should seek medical attention to find out what is going on. Sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate between normal myoclonus in healthy people, and muscle jerks which indicate an underlying pathology which has not been diagnosed. In either case, it's a good idea to consult a neurologist. The neurologist can interview the patient to learn more about the myoclonus, and he or she may recommend testing which can be used to determine the underlying cause, such as EEGs of the brain, along with imaging studies like CT scans and MRIs.

If a neurologist cannot find a cause for a myoclonus but the twitching is irritating, he or she may have medications to recommend which could help the patient manage the issue. In patients with neurological or other disorders which are causing myoclonic jerks, addressing the underlying condition can resolve or reduce the twitching. Neurological conditions may not necessarily be curable, but their symptoms can often be managed with medication, surgery, and other treatments to keep patients more comfortable.

Myoclonus refers to a sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles. In its simplest form, myoclonus consists of a muscle twitch followed by relaxation. A hiccup is an example of this type of myoclonus. Other familiar examples of myoclonus are the jerks or "sleep starts" that some people experience while drifting off to sleep. These simple forms of myoclonus occur in normal, healthy persons and cause no difficulties. When more widespread, myoclonus may involve persistent, shock-like contractions in a group of muscles. Myoclonic jerking may develop in people with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Myoclonic jerks commonly occur in persons with epilepsy, a disorder in which the electrical activity in the brain becomes disordered and leads to seizures.

Is there any treatment?

Treatment of myoclonus focuses on medications that may help reduce symptoms. The drug of first choice is clonazepam, a type of tranquilizer. Many of the drugs used for myoclonus, such as barbiturates, phenytoin, and primidone, are also used to treat epilepsy. Sodium valproate is an alternative therapy for myoclonus and can be used either alone or in combination with clonazepam. Myoclonus may require the use of multiple drugs for effective treatment.

What research is being done?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts research relating to myoclonus in its laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and also supports additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Scientists are seeking to understand the underlying biochemical basis of involuntary movements and to find the most effective treatment for myoclonus and other movement disorders. Researchers may be able to develop drug treatments that target specific biochemical changes involved in myoclonus. By combining several of these drugs, scientists hope to achieve greater control of myoclonic symptoms.




 

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