PERSISTENT MOVEMENT-DISORDERS INDUCED BY BUSPIRONE

Buspirone, an azospirone compound, is a nonsedative anxiolytic that ha s achieved wide usage since its introduction in 1987. Although relativ ely free of side-effects, there have been several instances of dyskine sia and dystonia associated with the use of buspirone. We report two p atients with persistent movement disorders that developed after prolon ged treatment with the drug. One patient developed a lasting problem o f cervical-cranial dystonia and tremors after treatment with buspirone at a dosage of 40 mg/day for several weeks. Another, receiving 30 mg/ day for 6 weeks, experienced an exacerbation of preexisting spasmodic torticollis and tardive dyskinesia as well as the onset of involuntary phonations. As shown by these and other examples, buspirone poses the risk for inducing or exacerbating several types of movement disorders .