There are two typical presentations of a drug induced dystonic reaction:
- A young male recently started on, or with a rapid dose increase of, neuroleptics
- A patient in whom prophylactic medication to prevent acute extrapyramidal symptoms has been missed, stopped or reduced
Acute dystonia is commonly induced by anti-psychotics, anti-emetics or antidepressants but has been attributed less commonly to many other classes of drugs. Evidence grade 2B.