Adult onset methylphenidate induced dyskinesia after stroke

Methylphenidate is a stimulant medication that is commonly used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is also used as adjuvant therapy for improving disability after stroke. Recently, Moreau et al. reported that methylphenidate improved gait hypokinesia and freezing in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) . The most common side effects of methylphenidate are; insomnia, anorexia, weight loss, abdominal pain, headache, irritability, anxiety, tachycardia, hypertension, and motor tics. Dyskinesia as a side effect of methylphenidate is rare, and only a few cases have been reported . Most of these reports have involved children; dyskinesia as a side effect of methylphenidate in adults has been reported in patients with PD but not in stroke patients. Here, we describe two adult patients who presented with dyskinesia while taking methylphenidate as adjuvant therapy following stroke.
Source: Parkinsonism and Related Disorders - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research