How is acute dystonia typically managed?

Acute dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by sustained muscle contractions, abnormal postures, or twisting movements, often as a side effect of antipsychotic medications. The management of acute dystonia primarily involves administering anticholinergic medications. Anticholinergics, such as benztropine or diphenhydramine, help to restore the balance between dopamine and acetylcholine in the brain, alleviating the symptoms of acute dystonia effectively.

In addition, while reducing the dose of the antipsychotic or switching to atypical antipsychotics can be relevant strategies in the broader context of treating medication-induced side effects, these approaches do not provide immediate relief for acute dystonia. Antidepressants like SSRIs are not effective for managing acute dystonia, as they do not target the underlying neurotransmitter imbalance involved in the condition. Hence, the administration of anticholinergic medication is the most effective and fast-acting treatment for this particular situation.