Reactions 439 - 20 Feb 1993

Desipramine

Stuttering and jaw myoclonus: case reportAfter at least 2 to 4 months’ treatment with desipramine

50-300 mg/day and doxepin 50 mg/day, a 28-year-old manwith depression developed myoclonic jaw jerking, stutteringand difficulty with articulation. Once desipramine and doxepinwere discontinued, the jaw jerking and stuttering resolvedcompletely within 48 hours. However, when the patientrestarted combined medication with desipramine anddoxepin, the jaw myoclonus and stuttering returned within 24hours. The desipramine dose was decreased to 250 mg/day,but the stuttering continued. On four different occasions,discontinuation of desipramine led to resolution of the jawjerking and stuttering within 24-48 hours. Reinstatement ofdesipramine resulted in recurrence of stuttering. Desipraminewas discontinued and the doxepin dosage was increased to200 mg/day. Depression resolved and there was no recurrenceof myoclonus or stuttering at 8 weeks follow-up.

Author comment: Myoclonic jaw jerking with associatedstuttering has been occasionally reported in patients treatedwith antidepressants. It is most likely that desipramine was thecause of the jaw myoclonus and stuttering observed in thispatientMasand P. Desipramine-induced oral-pharyngeal disturbances: stuttering and jawmyoclonus. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 12: 444-445, Dec 1992 -USA 800176949

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Reactions 20 Feb 1993 No. 4390114-9954/10/0439-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved