A novel therapeutic agent, sodium oxybate, improves dystonic symptoms via reduced network-wide activity.

ABSTRACT: Oral medications for the treatment of dystonia are not established. Currently, symptoms of focal dystonia are managed with botulinum toxin injections into the affected muscles. However, the injection effects are short-lived and not beneficial for all patients. We recently reported significant clinical improvement of symptoms with novel investigational oral drug, sodium oxybate, in patients with the alcohol-responsive form of laryngeal focal dystonia. Understanding the mechanism of action of this promising oral agent holds a strong potential for the development of a scientific rationale for its use in dystonia. Therefore, to determine the neural markers of sodium oxybate effects, which may underlie dystonic symptom improvement, we examined brain activity during symptomatic speech production

SUBMITTER: Simonyan K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6208333 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature