Objective: Lingual dystonia secondary to neuroleptics is common and can persist even after a change in therapy (1), (2). The value of our work lies in discussing a symptomatic therapeutic option, botulinum toxin, which could reduce these dyskinesias when stopping or changing neuroleptic treatment is not possible.
Background: Tongue dystonia is a focal dystonia that is one of the tardive dyskinesias that can occur during prolonged antipsychotic treatment or after its discontinuation, and which are present for at least four weeks, with a prevalence of 24–32% with neuroleptics and 13% with atypical antipsychotics (3).
Botulinum toxin has proven effective in the treatment of focal dystonias (4), particularly tongue protrusion and blepharospasm (1),(4),(5).
Method: We report the clinical case of a 58-year-old patient who had been treated for psychosis for two years while on haloperidol. He presented with tongue dystonia and protrusive movements that began four months after starting treatment.
Results: All tests were negative. The movements decreased slightly after a change in treatment and the prescription of Clozapine. The patient received botulinum toxin injections (Dysport) at a dose of 40 to 60 units per session in the genioglossus and hyoglossus muscles, resulting in an improvement in the dystonia for up to three months after the injection.
Conclusion: Dysport represents a therapeutic option in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia of the tongue secondary to neuroleptics even if it is used off-label for this indication.
References: (1)Y. Auxéméry.Dyskinésies tardives secondaires aux neuroleptiques et antipsychotiques : quelles perspectives thérapeutiques ?Therapeutic perspectives of tardive dyskinesia. Annales Médico-Psychologiques 169 (2011) 528–535.
(2)Nobutomo Yamamoto and Toshiya Inada. Dystonia Secondary to Use of Antipsychotic Agents. Dystonia – The Many Facets.2012.
(3)A.-S. Seigneuriea, F. Sauvanauda, F. Limosina,∗,b,c. Prevention and treatment of tardive dyskinesia caused by antipsychotic drugs.L’Encéphale, 2015.
(4)Boukadir Chahrazad. Efficacité et tolérance de la toxine botulique dans le traitement des dystonies focales. Thèse Doctorat : Science Médicale: Université Alger1: 2025.
(5)S. Sangla. Aspects thérapeutiques actuels de la toxine botulique en neurologie. Kinésithérapie-Médecine physique-Réadaptation. 2007.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
C. Boukadir. Efficacy of Dysport in the treatment of late onset-lingal dystonia secondary to neuroleptics [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/efficacy-of-dysport-in-the-treatment-of-late-onset-lingal-dystonia-secondary-to-neuroleptics/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/efficacy-of-dysport-in-the-treatment-of-late-onset-lingal-dystonia-secondary-to-neuroleptics/