Focal Dystonia Treatments

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:

Medications

Certain medications may help correct imbalances in neurotransmitters. Medications used to treat dystonia include:

Anticonvulsant medications may also help people with dystonia. Since these medications are associated with certain side effects, your doctor will balance treating your symptoms with reducing the risk of side effects.

Botulinum Toxin Injections

Injecting botulinum toxin (eg, botox) directly into the muscles affected by dystonia can weaken the muscle. This may help improve symptoms of dystonia for 3-4 months.

Surgery

Surgery to cut the nerves leading to muscles affected by dystonia or removing the muscles altogether may help reduce dystonic muscle contractions. In addition, surgery to destroy the small area within the brain that dystonia originates from may successfully stop or reduce the disorder. More recently, some success has been reported using surgically implanted deep brain stimulation to reduce symptoms of dystonia.

Factors that may worsen dystonia include:

Excitement or agitation
Stress
Talking
Fatigue

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.