Dystonia: Treatment
The treatment for dystonia may involve oral medications, botulinum toxin injections, and surgery. These therapies may be used alone or in combination.

Unfortunately, the use of oral drugs is based on trial-and-error methodology. Everyone reacts differently to the medications available and there are a wide variety of pharmacological options for relieving the symptoms of dystonia. Some of the medications used to treat this disorder include:

• Anticholinergics such as Artane (trihexyphenidyl), Cogentin (benztropine), or Parsitan (ethopropazine): These may be used to block acetylcholine. While considered highly effective treatment for dystonia, these drugs work in only a minority of patients.
  
• Benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam): These may be used to block the Gaba-A receptor in the central nervous system. Benzodiazepines can be effective for focal, segmental, and generalized dystonias.
  
• Baclofen (Lioresal): This drug stimulates the Gaba-B receptor. Intrathecal (spinal infusion) forms of Baclofen are also available.
  
• Dopamine antagonists: Sinemet (levodopa) or Parlodel (bromocriptine) increase dopamine. These drugs seem to work best on patients diagnosed with primary dystonia.
  
• Dopamine depletors: Anti-psychotics like Clozaril (clozapine), Nitoman (tetrabenazine), and Reserpine have the opposite affect and actually block or deplete dopamine.

Depending on the form of dystonia, other treatments including physical therapy and speech therapy may also prove beneficial to dystonia patients.

Surgical treatment of dystonia is usually reserved for patients in whom other forms of therapy fail.