Dystonia refers to a condition characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that may
cause pain, abnormal posture, or abnormal movements. The cause of dystonia is unknown, but
some researchers believe it is a result of overactivity in the areas of the brain responsible
for movement (basal ganglia).
Lidocaine is a drug used for the treatment of irregular heartbeats. It is given by injection.
Recent studies have shown that lidocaine is also effective for the treatment dystonia.
Mexiletine is a drug similar to lidocaine used for irregular heartbeats that can be taken by
mouth.
Researchers would like to test the effectiveness of Mexiletine for the treatment of dystonia.
Patients participating in the study will be divided into two groups;
Group 1 will take Mexiletine for six weeks then stop. They will remain drug free for one week
then begin taking a placebo "inactive sugar pill" for an additional six weeks.
Group 2 will take a placebo "inactive sugar pill" for six weeks then stop. They will remain
drug free for one week then begin taking a Mexiletine for an additional six weeks.
Throughout the study researchers will test the effectiveness of the treatment by evaluating
patients using clinical rating scales and neurophysiological studies. In addition,
researchers will test patient's reflexes in an attempt to find out where mexiletine works in
the nervous system.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)