Successful treatment of tardive dystonia with clozapine and clonazepam.

BACKGROUND

Tardive dystonia is an uncommon complication of neuroleptic treatment which is frequently disabling and poorly responsive to treatment.

METHOD

The case is reported of a 28-year-old patient with schizophrenia who developed severe, generalised tardive dystonia after five years of neuroleptic treatment. Stopping neuroleptic medication and treatment with tetrabenazine, an anticholinergic and a benzodiazepine were ineffective. Treatment with clozapine and then the novel combination of clozapine plus clonazepam was instituted.

RESULTS

Treatment with clozapine alone brought about limited improvement. Addition of clonazepam resulted in virtually complete disappearance of all abnormal movements. This remission has been sustained for nearly two years.

CONCLUSIONS

This report adds to two other cases suggesting that the combination of clozapine and clonazepam may be an effective treatment for tardive dystonia.