Involuntary movements during vitamin B12 treatment

J Child Neurol. 2010 Feb;25(2):227-30. doi: 10.1177/0883073809333528. Epub 2009 Jun 12.

Abstract

It has been known for many years that vitamin B12 deficiency can cause neurologic problems. One of these problems is involuntary movements that can appear both before and after the initiation of vitamin B12 treatment. Here, we report 3 infants who developed movement disorder during vitamin B12 administration. The movement disorder consisted of a combination of tremor and myoclonus affecting face, tongue, and limbs. Because of the severity of the symptoms, they all needed symptomatic treatment. In 2 of them, the involuntary movements resolved with clonazepam. The involuntary movements in the other patient were successfully treated with piracetam.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Clonazepam / therapeutic use
  • Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Piracetam / therapeutic use
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin B 12 / adverse effects*
  • Vitamin B 12 / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Clonazepam
  • Vitamin B 12
  • Piracetam