Morphine in tardive and idiopathic dystonia

Opioids have been shown to improve L-Dopa induced dyskinesias in patients w ith Parkinson's disease. In this pilot trial of five patients with tardive and four patients with idiopathic dystonia we tested the effect of morphins ulfate in a retarded form with a dosage of 20-60 mg per day. A substantial improvement of dystonic movements could be observed in four p atients with tardive and one patient with idiopathic dystonia. The effect w as only transient in tardive dystonia while pain relief mediated by morphin e overlasted the effect on involuntary movements.