Question 1

what is myoclonus?

Accepted Answer

Sudden muscle jerk: Myoclonus is a sudden limb or trunk jerk which is involuntary.  It can be associated with sleep issues, both benign and disruptive, but also can be a consequence of epilepsy, hypoxia, and following brain infections, such as hiv.  Management depends on causation.

Question 2

how can you treat myoclonus?

Accepted Answer

Medications: Most often daytime myoclonus can respond to Depakote or keppra, (levetiracetam) but nocturnal myoclonus is different, and we use drugs such as Requip or mirapex.

Question 3

what do you take if myoclonus?

Accepted Answer

Anticonvulsant meds: Usually this is treated with klonopin, but Neurontin (gabapentin) and other anticonvulsant meds may help.  Make sure to distinguish between myoclonus and restless legs (rls) which may have other treatments.

Question 4

can myoclonus develop into a disease?

Accepted Answer

It is a condition: Myoclunus just means jumping or jerking limbs.  Usually it is the legs but can be any muscle.  As night it may wake you up causing daytime fatigue.  It can occur by itself or be part of a number of conditions where nerves in the head are not communicating with the nerves in the spine such as ms, head injury or pinched spinal nerves. Have a neurologist evaluate.

Question 5

how do you know if you have got myoclonus?

Accepted Answer

Jerking: Myoclonus refers to unpredictable and uncontrollable jerking of muscles.  Any muscle or muscle group can be involved.

Question 6

does anyone know the symptoms of myoclonus?

Accepted Answer

Jerking: Myoclonus refers to unpredictable and uncontrollable jerking of muscles.  Any muscle or muscle group can be involved.

Question 7

myoclonus during photostimulation.  (watching tv) could this be a symptom of jme?

Accepted Answer

Could be but..: Photostimulation has been well known to initiate seizure activity in seizure prone individuals and therefore, an abnormal motor activity following photostimulation is very non specific.  JME is typically diagnosed by EEG.

Question 8

my son had only suffered the myoclonus at night he has now had it during the day. more in the morning and later in the day. what could this be. ?

Accepted Answer

Muscle cotractions: The first thing to check is his blood electrolytes, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. If these are OK, then a pediatric  neurologist should check him.

Question 9

what is opsoclonus/myoclonus?

Accepted Answer

Rare: Opsoclonus myoclonus is a rare neurological disorder characterized by unsteady gait, intention tremor myoclonus (brief, shock-like muscle spasms), and opsoclonus (irregular, rapid, horizontal and vertical eye movements). Other symptoms may include dysphasia (difficulty speaking), dysarthria (poorly articulated speech), lethargy, irritability, malaise. It occurs in viral illnesses and tumors.

Question 10

is there a method of preventive care for myoclonus?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Several medicines seem to prevent myoclonus in both epilepsy and other conditions.  The best accepted include Depakote and keppra (levetiracetam).  Some medicines make it worse.  Nocturnal myoclonus might respond to Requip or mirapex.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Myoclonus drugs

A member asked:

What is myoclonus?

A member asked:

How can you treat myoclonus?

A member asked:

What do you take if myoclonus?

A member asked:

Can myoclonus develop into a disease?

A member asked:

How do you know if you have got myoclonus?

A member asked:

Does anyone know the symptoms of myoclonus?

A member asked:

Myoclonus during photostimulation. (watching tv) could this be a symptom of jme?

A member asked:

My son had only suffered the myoclonus at night he has now had it during the day. more in the morning and later in the day. what could this be. ?

A member asked:

What is opsoclonus/myoclonus?

A member asked:

Is there a method of preventive care for myoclonus?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?