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Evidence summaries

Drug Treatment for Myotonia

Evidence is insufficient to determine whether drug treatment is safe and effective in the treatment of myotonia. Clomipramine and imipramine might possibly have a short-term and taurine a long-term beneficial effect on myotonia but larger, well-designed trials are needed. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 10 studies with a total of 143 participants (113 with myotonic dystrophy type 1 and 30 with myotonia congenita). Twelve different drugs were used in the studies which were of poor quality. Two small crossover studies without a washout period demonstrated a significant effect of imipramine and taurine in myotonic dystrophy. One small crossover study with a washout period demonstrated a significant effect of clomipramine in myotonic dystrophy. Meta-analysis was not possible.

    References

    • Trip J, Drost G, van Engelen BG, Faber CG. Drug treatment for myotonia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006;(1):CD004762 [Review content assessed as up-to-date: 29 July 2009]. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords