Increasing Evidence for the Use of Sodium Oxybate in Multi-Drug-Resistant Lance-Adams Syndrome

Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2019 Jun 17:9. doi: 10.7916/d8-rnsh-c024. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Background: Treatment of posthypoxic myoclonus (PHM) can be a challenge in patients not responsive to first-line medications. PMH is a rare condition that has a dramatic impact on patients' quality of life. Refractory cases are not uncommon.

Case report: We report a patient with PHM non-responsive to conventional treatments who showed a dramatic improvement with sodium oxybate (SBX). Cases of PHM treated with SBX reported in the literature were reviewed.

Discussion: Resting and stimulus-induced myoclonus respond robustly to SBX, with significant improvement in patients' quality of life. SBX may be considered in patients with PHM resistant to first-line medications.

Keywords: Lance–Adams syndrome; Posthypoxic myoclonus; alcohol-sensitive myoclonus; refractory myoclonus; sodium oxybate.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple / drug effects*
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia, Brain / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Myoclonus / drug therapy*
  • Quality of Life
  • Sodium Oxybate / pharmacology*
  • Syndrome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Sodium Oxybate