An older patient’s involuntary postural lapses resolved after lorazepam administration and pregabalin discontinuation.
The case sequence
An 80-year-old man developed multifocal negative myoclonus and confusion after starting pregabalin. Negative myoclonus means brief interruptions of muscle contraction, rather than an ordinary tremor. Symptoms resolved and mental status improved after intravenous lorazepam and stopping pregabalin.
Recovery did not isolate either intervention
The report supports considering a medication-related movement disorder, but one patient cannot determine the independent effectiveness of lorazepam. Withdrawal of the suspected agent, changing physiology, and time could also contribute. The observed response also does not establish that all such movements are epileptic seizures. For retrospective review, distinguish the movement description, exposure timeline, renal and metabolic context, electrical testing, and response. A benzodiazepine used therapeutically after symptom onset should not be assumed to have been the cause of the original presentation.
Source paper
Original analysis of the supplied journal article, identified as PMC6784710.