Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Case report

Palatal tremor after lithium and carbamazepine use: a case report

Authors: Rajnarayan Mahasuar, Anju Kuruvilla, KS Jacob

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2010

Login to get access

Abstract

Introduction

Palatal tremor, characterized by rhythmic contractions of the soft palate, can occur secondary to pathology in the dentato-rubro-olivary pathway, or in the absence of such structural lesions. Its pathogenesis is only partially understood. We describe a case of probable drug-induced palatal tremor.

Case presentation

A 27-year-old Indian man had taken carbamazepine and lithium for 7 years for the treatment of a manic episode. He presented with a one-year history of bilateral rhythmic oscillations of his soft palate and tremors of his tongue. There were no other abnormalities detected from his examination or after detailed investigation.

Conclusion

Palatal tremors may result from medication used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Sadock BJ, Sadock VA: Mood disorders. Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry. Edited by: Sadock BJ, Sadock VA. 2003, Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 529-9 Sadock BJ, Sadock VA: Mood disorders. Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry. Edited by: Sadock BJ, Sadock VA. 2003, Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 529-9
2.
go back to reference Martinez M, Marangell LB, Martinez JM: Psychopharmacology. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. Edited by: Hales RE, Yudofsky SC, Gabbard GO. 2008, Washington DC: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc, 1106-5 Martinez M, Marangell LB, Martinez JM: Psychopharmacology. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. Edited by: Hales RE, Yudofsky SC, Gabbard GO. 2008, Washington DC: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc, 1106-5
3.
go back to reference Adams RD, Victor M, Ropper AH: Tremor, myoclonus, focal dystonias, and tics. Principles of Neurology. Edited by: Adams RD, Victor M, Ropper AH. 1997, New York: McGraw- Hill, 101-6 Adams RD, Victor M, Ropper AH: Tremor, myoclonus, focal dystonias, and tics. Principles of Neurology. Edited by: Adams RD, Victor M, Ropper AH. 1997, New York: McGraw- Hill, 101-6
4.
go back to reference Samuel M, Torun N, Tuite PJ, Sharpe JA, Lang AE: Progressive ataxia and palatal tremor (PAPT): clinical and MRI assessment with review of palatal tremors. Brain. 2004, 127: 1252-1268. 10.1093/brain/awh137.CrossRefPubMed Samuel M, Torun N, Tuite PJ, Sharpe JA, Lang AE: Progressive ataxia and palatal tremor (PAPT): clinical and MRI assessment with review of palatal tremors. Brain. 2004, 127: 1252-1268. 10.1093/brain/awh137.CrossRefPubMed
5.
go back to reference Zadicoff C, Lang AE, Klein C: The 'essentials' of essential palatal tremor: a reappraisal of the nosology. Brain. 2006, 129: 832-840. 10.1093/brain/awh684.CrossRef Zadicoff C, Lang AE, Klein C: The 'essentials' of essential palatal tremor: a reappraisal of the nosology. Brain. 2006, 129: 832-840. 10.1093/brain/awh684.CrossRef
6.
go back to reference Pearce JM: Palatal myoclonus (syn palatal tremor). Eur Neurol. 2008, 60: 312-315. 10.1159/000159929.CrossRefPubMed Pearce JM: Palatal myoclonus (syn palatal tremor). Eur Neurol. 2008, 60: 312-315. 10.1159/000159929.CrossRefPubMed
7.
go back to reference Haller S, Winkler DT, Gobbi C, Lyrer P, Wetzel SG, Steck AJ: Prominent activation of the putamen during essential palatal tremor: a functional MR imaging case study. Am J Neuroradiol. 2006, 27: 1272-1274.PubMed Haller S, Winkler DT, Gobbi C, Lyrer P, Wetzel SG, Steck AJ: Prominent activation of the putamen during essential palatal tremor: a functional MR imaging case study. Am J Neuroradiol. 2006, 27: 1272-1274.PubMed
8.
go back to reference Marjama J, Troster AI, Koller WC: Psychogenic movement disorders. Neurol Clin. 1995, 13: 283-297.PubMed Marjama J, Troster AI, Koller WC: Psychogenic movement disorders. Neurol Clin. 1995, 13: 283-297.PubMed
9.
go back to reference Noachtar S, Ebner A, Witte OW, Seitz RJ: Palatal tremor of cortical origin presenting as epilepsia partialis continua. Epilepsia. 2005, 36: 207-209. 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1995.tb00981.x.CrossRef Noachtar S, Ebner A, Witte OW, Seitz RJ: Palatal tremor of cortical origin presenting as epilepsia partialis continua. Epilepsia. 2005, 36: 207-209. 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1995.tb00981.x.CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Sadock BJ, Sadock VA: Biological therapies. Concise Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry. Edited by: Sadock BJ, Sadock VA. 2008, Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 514-519. 3 Sadock BJ, Sadock VA: Biological therapies. Concise Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry. Edited by: Sadock BJ, Sadock VA. 2008, Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 514-519. 3
11.
go back to reference Caviness JN, Evidente VG: Cortical myoclonus during lithium exposure. Arch Neurol. 2003, 3: 401-404. 10.1001/archneur.60.3.401.CrossRef Caviness JN, Evidente VG: Cortical myoclonus during lithium exposure. Arch Neurol. 2003, 3: 401-404. 10.1001/archneur.60.3.401.CrossRef
12.
go back to reference Muthane UB, Prasad BN, Vasanth A, Satishchandra P: Tardive Parkinsonism, orofacial dyskinesia and akathisia following brief exposure to lithium carbonate. J Neurol Sci. 2000, 1: 78-79. 10.1016/S0022-510X(00)00306-3.CrossRef Muthane UB, Prasad BN, Vasanth A, Satishchandra P: Tardive Parkinsonism, orofacial dyskinesia and akathisia following brief exposure to lithium carbonate. J Neurol Sci. 2000, 1: 78-79. 10.1016/S0022-510X(00)00306-3.CrossRef
13.
14.
go back to reference Rahko T, Häkkinen V: Carbamazepine in the treatment of objective myoclonus tinnitus. J Laryngol Otol. 1979, 93: 123-127. 10.1017/S0022215100086849.CrossRefPubMed Rahko T, Häkkinen V: Carbamazepine in the treatment of objective myoclonus tinnitus. J Laryngol Otol. 1979, 93: 123-127. 10.1017/S0022215100086849.CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Yigit A, Sarikaya S: Myoclonus relieved by carbamazepine in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.Epileptic Disord. Epileptic Disord. 2006, 8: 77-80.PubMed Yigit A, Sarikaya S: Myoclonus relieved by carbamazepine in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.Epileptic Disord. Epileptic Disord. 2006, 8: 77-80.PubMed
16.
go back to reference Cheung Y, Wong WW, Tang K, Chan JH, Li PC: Ciprofloxacin-induced palatal tremor. Mov Disord. 2007, 22: 1038-1043. 10.1002/mds.21452.CrossRefPubMed Cheung Y, Wong WW, Tang K, Chan JH, Li PC: Ciprofloxacin-induced palatal tremor. Mov Disord. 2007, 22: 1038-1043. 10.1002/mds.21452.CrossRefPubMed
17.
go back to reference Campistol-Plana J, Majumdar A, Fernández-Alvarez E: Palatal tremor in childhood: clinical and therapeutic considerations. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006, 48: 982-984. 10.1017/S0012162206002155.CrossRefPubMed Campistol-Plana J, Majumdar A, Fernández-Alvarez E: Palatal tremor in childhood: clinical and therapeutic considerations. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006, 48: 982-984. 10.1017/S0012162206002155.CrossRefPubMed
18.
go back to reference Mondria T, de Gier HH, Boon AJ: New device to control combined lingual and palatal myoclonus. Mov Disord. 2007, 22: 573-576. 10.1002/mds.21320.CrossRefPubMed Mondria T, de Gier HH, Boon AJ: New device to control combined lingual and palatal myoclonus. Mov Disord. 2007, 22: 573-576. 10.1002/mds.21320.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Palatal tremor after lithium and carbamazepine use: a case report
Authors
Rajnarayan Mahasuar
Anju Kuruvilla
KS Jacob
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-4-176

Other articles of this Issue 1/2010

Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2010 Go to the issue