Medicine Reaction: Dystonic
You are having a muscular reaction to a medicine you have taken. This is an uncontrolled movement of muscles (dystonia). This isn't a very common reaction. It's most often caused by medicines given for nausea, seizures, or mental health (psychiatric) issues. It can happen fairly quickly after taking the medicine. But it may occur after hours or even days. Sometimes this reaction happens when a new medicine you have started slows down the breakdown of a previous medicine you were taking. Usually, stopping the new medicine will stop the reaction. This can take up to 3 days. In rare cases, it can take a lot longer. You've been given medicines to help treat the reaction.
Symptoms may include:
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Stiffening, tightness, spasm, or twisting of the muscles in the eyes, tongue, jaw, back, legs, or arms
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Trouble speaking and swallowing
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Trouble opening your mouth
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Trouble moving your neck and head
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Restless, jittery feeling all over your body
Home care
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You may eat and drink as normal. Take your other prescribed medicines as directed. Don't drink alcohol for the next 3 days.
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Take diphenhydramine, or the medicines you were given, for at least 2 days, or as advised. After 2 days, most of the medicine that caused the reaction should be gone from your body.
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If symptoms return, take the medicines for the reaction for another 48 hours. If this doesn't help, or if you run out of medicine, call your healthcare provider.
Prevention
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Most dystonic reactions are caused by a class of medicines called phenothiazines. Some antinausea medicines and some tranquilizers are in this class. If you have reacted to one medicine in this class, any medicine in this class will likely cause the same reaction. Other medicines that may cause this reaction include metoclopramide, antipsychotics, and some anesthetics. Some illegal drugs can also cause this reaction.
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Unless advised by your healthcare provider, don't take the medicine that caused the reaction ever again. It may cause the same reaction in the future. In some cases, this medicine may be needed to treat your condition. There may be no substitute. Then, you can take each dose along with the medicine to treat the reaction.
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Don't take any new medicines without letting your provider know. This includes over-the-counter medicines.
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Each time you visit a healthcare provider or a hospital, tell them about your reaction to this medicine.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised.
When to get medical advice
Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these occur:
Call 911
Call 911 if any of these occur:
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Trouble breathing or swallowing
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Trouble speaking
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Confusion
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Extreme drowsiness or trouble waking up
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Fainting or loss of consciousness
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Fast heart rate
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Seizure
Online Medical Reviewer:
L Renee Watson MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Raymond Turley Jr PA-C
Online Medical Reviewer:
Robert Hurd MD
Date Last Reviewed:
12/1/2022
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