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Myoclonus has been described as a neuroexcitatory side effect of high doses of opioids. It has been seen almost exclusively in patients receiving palliative care after long-term administration of opioids. Gradual accumulation of opioid metabolites has been thought to cause opioid-induced myoclonus.1 Naloxone has usually been ineffective in resolving this condition. In this study, we present a case of severe generalised myoclonus after a patient with known multiple system atrophy received a low dose of intravenous hydromorphone. The generalised myoclonus reversed completely immediately after he received naloxone.
Case report
A 75-year-old man with a history of multiple system atrophy with parkinsonism was admitted to the Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Canada, with a hip fracture. Drugs administered on admission were fludrocortisone, glicizide, intravenous immune globulin (for bullous pemphigoid) and midodrine. He was not taking levodopa because of severe orthostatic hypotension. To treat his pain, 1 mg of intravenous hydromorphone was given over 20 min. About 35 min after receiving the hydromorphone infusion, the patient had decreased …
Footnotes
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Competing interests: None declared.