Dystonic Reaction of Pharyngeal+Laryngeal Muscles
Etiology
- Neuroleptics (usually occurs after a few days of therapy): Haldol/ Phenothiazines/ Thioxanthenes
- Risk factors for neuroleptic-induced dystonia:
- Young male sex
- Use of high potency neuroleptic agents
Physiology
- Dystonic reaction of upper airway muscles -> upper airway obstruction
Clinical
- Torticollis
- Retrocollis
- Oculogyric crisis
- Tongue and jaw stiffness
- Opisthotonus
- Although rare, dystonia may involve only upper airway muscles in some cases
Treatment
- IV Benadryl (centrally acting anticholinergic): effective
References
