Apraxia of Lid Opening Medication

Updated: Nov 10, 2023
  • Author: Marta Ugarte, MBBS, PhD, DPhil, FRCOphth; Chief Editor: Hampton Roy, Sr, MD  more...
  • Print
Medication

Medication Summary

Drugs used in the management of apraxia of lid opening (ALO) include neuromuscular blocker agents, antiparkinson agents, anticholinergic agents, and anticonvulsants.

Next:

Neuromuscular Blockers, Botulinum Toxins

Class Summary

Neuromuscular blocker agents help produce symptomatic improvement of orbicularis oculi (OO) spasm and autonomic symptoms.

OnabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX®)

A dose of 1 U of botulinum toxin type A corresponds to the calculated median intraperitoneal lethal dose (LD50) in mice. Each vial contains 100 U of Clostridium botulinum type A neurotoxin complex, 0.5 mg of human albumin, and 0.9 mg of sodium chloride in a sterile, vacuum-dried form without a preservative. It blocks neuromuscular transmission by binding to receptor sites on motor or sympathetic nerve terminals, entering the nerve terminals, and inhibiting the release of acetylcholine.

Abobotulinumtoxin A (Dysport)

Abobotulinumtoxin A is a type A neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum spore, forming anaerobic bacilli. Its activity appears to affect only the presynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction in humans. Muscle inactivation persists until new fibrils grow from the nerve and form junction plates on new areas of the muscle cell walls.

Previous
Next:

Antiparkinson Agents, Dopamine Agonists

Class Summary

Antiparkinson agents reduce the morbidity associated with dopamine deficiency.

Carbidopa and Levodopa (Sinemet)

Levodopa formulations include benserazide 25 mg plus levodopa 100 mg (not available in the United States) and carbidopa 50 mg plus levodopa 200 mg. Levodopa, the metabolic precursor of dopamine, crosses the blood-brain barrier and presumably is converted to dopamine in the brain to relieve the symptoms of neurologic diseases that are related to depletion of dopamine. Carbidopa inhibits decarboxylation of peripheral levodopa, making more levodopa available for transport to the brain.

Previous
Next:

Antiparkinson Agents, Anticholinergics

Class Summary

Anticholinergic agents are thought to work centrally by suppressing conduction in the vestibular cerebellar pathways. They may have an inhibitory effect on the parasympathetic nervous system.

Trihexyphenidyl

Trihexyphenidyl is a centrally-acting anticholinergic that tends to diminish muscle spasms.

Benztropine (Cogentin)

By blocking striatal cholinergic receptors, benztropine may help balance cholinergic and dopaminergic activity in striatum. This agent can be used as an alternative to trihexyphenidyl.

Previous
Next:

Anticonvulsants, Other

Class Summary

Anticonvulsants are used to treat severe muscle spasms.

Valproic acid (Depacon, Depakene, Stavzor)

Delayed-release or extended-release formulations of valproic acid are used for prophylaxis of migraine headaches. Although the mechanism of action is not established, the drug's activity may be related to increased brain levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or to enhanced GABA action.

Previous