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Author Please help - dystonia or something else?
Xlar54

2004-10-03, 10:17 pm

My son, age 5, appears to have dystonic reactions to cough and cold
medications. We first noticed it when he was put on Zyrtec. Now it
seems that the actual cough medication used is irrellevant. His
symptoms are:

1) Facial muscles freeze into a smile
2) Eyes fixate to the upper left
3) Head may bend backwards, frozen
4) Hands and arms may lock
5) Jaw and mouth may lock

Watching him go through it breaks my heart to no end. Sometimes the
muscles will lock so hard that it actually causes him pain. He is
still in there, and can talk and tell me how he's doing, but its
obvious his body isnt working with him. I die inside when I see him go
through it, especially when he's wimpering or crying out with that
frozen smile on his face. He has asmtha, and is only on Albuterol and
Singular for that.

I dont know what to do, or who to take him to. Is there anything I can
do to help him?
Mollypup

2004-10-03, 10:17 pm

Xlar54 wrote:
> My son, age 5, appears to have dystonic reactions to cough and cold
> medications. We first noticed it when he was put on Zyrtec. Now it
> seems that the actual cough medication used is irrellevant. His
> symptoms are:
>
> 1) Facial muscles freeze into a smile
> 2) Eyes fixate to the upper left
> 3) Head may bend backwards, frozen
> 4) Hands and arms may lock
> 5) Jaw and mouth may lock
>
> Watching him go through it breaks my heart to no end. Sometimes the
> muscles will lock so hard that it actually causes him pain. He is
> still in there, and can talk and tell me how he's doing, but its
> obvious his body isnt working with him. I die inside when I see him go
> through it, especially when he's wimpering or crying out with that
> frozen smile on his face. He has asmtha, and is only on Albuterol and
> Singular for that.
>
> I dont know what to do, or who to take him to. Is there anything I can
> do to help him?


Have you taken him to a doctor? It seems obvious that if these drugs cause
such severe reactions, then he shouldn't be taking them. Some drugs have
certain anticholinergic side effects that can cause some weird symptoms.
Only a doctor can help you here, I think. Good luck!

--
- Sandy


Chip Orange

2004-12-16, 9:26 am

I seem to recall reading about a condition known as "stiff man syndrome" or
"stiff person syndrome". It's worth searching on to see if it applies to
your son.

Chip


"Xlar54" <scott_hutter@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:2a3f112d.0405191705.a3eb121@posting.google.com...
> My son, age 5, appears to have dystonic reactions to cough and cold
> medications. We first noticed it when he was put on Zyrtec. Now it
> seems that the actual cough medication used is irrellevant. His
> symptoms are:
>
> 1) Facial muscles freeze into a smile
> 2) Eyes fixate to the upper left
> 3) Head may bend backwards, frozen
> 4) Hands and arms may lock
> 5) Jaw and mouth may lock
>
> Watching him go through it breaks my heart to no end. Sometimes the
> muscles will lock so hard that it actually causes him pain. He is
> still in there, and can talk and tell me how he's doing, but its
> obvious his body isnt working with him. I die inside when I see him go
> through it, especially when he's wimpering or crying out with that
> frozen smile on his face. He has asmtha, and is only on Albuterol and
> Singular for that.
>
> I dont know what to do, or who to take him to. Is there anything I can
> do to help him?



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