Abstract
Mukand JA, Fitzsimmons C, Wennemer HK, Carrillo A, Cai C, Bailey KM. Olanzapine for
the treatment of hemiballismus: a case report.
Hemiballismus is a rare movement disorder characterized by involuntary, large amplitude
movements of the limbs of 1 side of the body. We describe the case of a man in his
late sixties with slurred speech, agitation, and right-sided hemiballismus resulting
from a left thalamic hemorrhagic stroke. Treatment with haloperidol was unsuccessful,
but both the hemiballismus and agitation diminished significantly after initiation
of olanzapine (Zyprexa). The improvement in the hemiballismus was quantified by recording
the number of hemiballistic movements that occurred while the patient performed standardized
30-minute sessions (daily for 5d). With the first task (reaching within the base of
support while seated), the average number of hemiballismic movements per session decreased
from a baseline of 23.5 to 3.0 in the upper extremity and from 20.5 to 7.0 in the
lower extremity. With the second task (catching a ball while seated), the abnormal
movements decreased from 52 to 6.3 in the upper extremity and from 34.5 to 2.7 in
the lower extremity. This case suggests that olanzapine may be a valuable pharmacologic
alternative for patients with hemiballismus.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 24,
2004
Footnotes
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
