NINDS Myoclonus Information Page: NINDS

Article title: NINDS Myoclonus Information Page: NINDS

Main condition: Myoclonus

Conditions: Myoclonus

What is Myoclonus?
Myoclonus is a term that refers to brief, involuntary twitching of a muscle or a group of muscles. It describes a symptom and, generally, is not a diagnosis of a disease. The myoclonic twitches or jerks are usually caused by sudden muscle contractions; they also can result from brief lapses of contraction. Myoclonic jerks may occur alone or in sequence, in a pattern or without pattern. They may occur infrequently or many times each minute. Most often myoclonus is one of several symptoms in a wide variety of nervous system disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Familiar examples of normal myoclonus include hiccups, and jerks or "sleep starts" that some people experience while drifting off to sleep. Severe cases of pathologic myoclonus can distort movement and severely limit a person's ability to eat, talk, and walk. Myoclonic jerks commonly occur in individuals with epilepsy. The most common types of myoclonus include action, cortical reflex, essential, palatal, progressive myoclonus epilepsy, reticular reflex, sleep, and stimulus-sensitive.

Is there any treatment?
Treatment for myoclonus consists of medications that may help reduce symptoms. Many of these drugs, which include barbiturates, clonazepam, phenytoin, primidone, and sodium valproate, are also used to treat epilepsy. The complex origins of myoclonus may require the use of multiple drugs for effective treatment.

What is the prognosis?
Although myoclonus is not a life-threatening condition, it may result in serious, debilitating impairments.

What research is being done?
The NINDS supports and conducts research on movement disorders such as myoclonus. Current research is attempting to clarify and expand the knowledge about myoclonus. Scientists are seeking to understand the biochemical basis of involuntary movements and to find the most effective treatment for myoclonus and other movement disorders.

Organizations

Moving Forward [A Myoclonus Resource]
2934 Glenmore Avenue
Kettering, OH 45409
Tel: 937-293-0409

Myoclonus Research Foundation
200 Old Palisade Road
17D
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
research@myoclonus.com
http://www.myoclonus.com/
Tel: 201-585-0770
Fax: 201-585-8114

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
(100 Route 37)
New Fairfield, CT 06812-8923
orphan@rarediseases.org
http://www.rarediseases.org/
Tel: 203-746-6518 800-999-NORD (6673)
Fax: 203-746-6481

Fact Sheet: Myoclonus
Myoclonus fact sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Patients with Cortical Myoclonus Needed
Lay-language descriptions of new program announcements and clinical trials seeking patient volunteers.

This fact sheet is in the public domain. You may copy it.Provided by:
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892

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