From the Guidelines
Lignocaine is not recommended as a first-line treatment for dystonia, and botulinum toxin injections are the preferred treatment for focal dystonias, including laryngeal dystonia, due to their ability to improve voice quality and quality of life with a preponderance of benefit over harm 1.
Key Points to Consider
- Dystonia is a complex neurological disorder characterized by abnormal brain signaling to muscles, leading to involuntary muscle contractions and spasms.
- The treatment of dystonia should be tailored to the specific type of dystonia and symptoms, and patients should work with a neurologist, preferably one specializing in movement disorders.
- Botulinum toxin injections have been shown to be effective in treating focal dystonias, including laryngeal dystonia, with a high level of confidence in the evidence and a preponderance of benefit over harm 1.
- Lignocaine, also known as lidocaine, has limited evidence supporting its routine use for dystonia management, and its peripheral action on nerve conduction does not address the central neurological dysfunction that causes dystonic movements.
Treatment Options
- Botulinum toxin injections: the treatment of choice for focal dystonias, including laryngeal dystonia, due to their ability to improve voice quality and quality of life with a preponderance of benefit over harm 1.
- Anticholinergics (like trihexyphenidyl), benzodiazepines (such as clonazepam), muscle relaxants (like baclofen), or dopaminergic agents (like levodopa): may be used to manage dystonia, but the evidence is not as strong as it is for botulinum toxin injections.
Important Considerations
- The diagnosis of dystonia can be subtle and may masquerade as other forms of dysphonia, leading to significant delays in diagnosis, averaging 4.4 years 1.
- Patients with dystonia should be referred to a clinician who can diagnose the condition and offer treatment with laryngeal botulinum toxin injection, as recommended by the clinical practice guideline 1.
From the Research
Ligno for Dystonia
There is no direct evidence in the provided studies regarding the use of Ligno for dystonia.
Alternative Treatments for Dystonia
- Botulinum toxin is a widely used treatment for dystonia, as seen in studies 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The treatment options for dystonia include:
- Botulinum toxin
- Drugs such as oral anticholinergics, baclofen, and clonazepam
- Deep brain stimulation surgery
- Noninvasive neuromodulation procedures
- Electromyography can increase toxin injection accuracy and reduce side effects 5.
- Pallidal deep-brain stimulation is beneficial for medication-refractory primary generalized and possibly focal dystonia such as cervical dystonia 5.