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What meds have worked best for Hemifacial spasms?

By Anonymous June 29, 2018 - 8:16am
 
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I am now on diazepam,5mg. but makes me feel foggy at times and sleepy. works some but not great. would like some feedback on other meds, that might work better that don't have bad side effects.

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Guide

Hello. Thank you for posting.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a rare neuromuscular disease characterized by irregular, involuntary muscle contractions (spasms) on one side of the face.

Treatment for hemifacial spasm may include:

Botulinum injections. Your doctor may inject botulinum toxin (Botox) into the affected muscles, which temporarily paralyzes those muscles. You'll need additional treatments every few months. The most common treatment for these spasms is an oral muscle relaxer that keeps your muscles from twitching. Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following medications to relax your face muscles:

baclofen (Lioresal)
clonazepam (Klonopin)
carbamazepine (Tegretol)

Surgical options:
Microvascular decompression surgery. In this surgery, your surgeon makes an opening in your skull and opens the covering of your brain (dura) to expose the facial nerve as it leaves the brainstem. Your surgeon locates the blood vessel pressing on or irritating the facial nerve and puts a spongelike material between the nerve and blood vessel, removing the pressure on the nerve. This surgery often can relieve hemifacial spasm.

Helena

June 29, 2018 - 4:29pm
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