BRUXISM SECONDARY TO ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUG EXPOSURE - A POSITIVE RESPONSE TO PROPRANOLOL

We present two cases of acute nocturnal bruxism occurring as an early side effect of antipsychotic drug treatment. The development of bruxis m was coupled with the appearance of neuroleptic-induced akathisia. Bo th complications were relieved after the P-adrenergic blocker proprano lol was added, suggesting the involvement of the adrenergic and seroto nergic central nervous systems, besides the dopaminergic system, in th e pathogenesis of bruxism. The positive response of iatrogenic bruxism to propranolol implies that propranolol also deserves a trial for the treatment of noniatrogenic nocturnal bruxism.