Diagnosis information

Medication-induced acute dystonia

Core diagnostic criteria, specifiers, differential considerations, and documentation support in one open, scan-friendly view.

G24.01Medication-Induced MovementLocal clinical reference

Criteria: 2 criteria, A–B
Specifiers: 6 specifiers
Differentials: 5 considerations
Severity specifier: Supported

Core diagnostic criteria

All criteria are shown. No expand controls or hidden sections.

A
Core criterion A
Abnormal and prolonged contraction of muscles of eyes, face, neck, limbs, or trunk developing in association with medication use
B
Core criterion B
Symptoms developed within a few days of starting or raising dose of medication, or reducing medication used to treat extrapyramidal symptoms

Specifiers

Mild: Dystonia present with minimal distress or functional impact.
Moderate: Clear motor disturbance with noticeable distress or functional impairment.
Severe: Marked, persistent motor disturbance causing significant disability, distress, or safety concerns.
With oculogyric crisis: Predominant sustained upward or lateral deviation of gaze.
With buccolingual dystonia: Predominant jaw, tongue, or facial muscle involvement.
With axial dystonia: Predominant truncal or neck posturing (e.g. torticollis, opisthotonos).

Documentation support

Consistent with [Medication-Induced Acute Dystonia] [specifier(s)]. Soon after exposure to a dopamine-blocking or dopamine-modulating medication, there has been the abrupt onset of sustained abnormal posturing; involuntary muscle contractions; twisting movements; oculogyric crisis; torticollis; buccolingual dystonia; opisthotonos, occurring within minutes to days of medication initiation or dose increase, forming a pattern consistent with an acute extrapyramidal dystonic reaction. The presentation is further characterised by a clear temporal association with the implicated medication and resolution or improvement with anticholinergic treatment. These symptoms have resulted in clinically significant distress, discomfort, or functional impairment, and the picture is not better explained by seizure activity, tetany, hypocalcaemia, functional neurological disorder, serotonin syndrome, or primary dystonia.

Adapt this supplied template to the assessment. It is not a substitute for diagnostic reasoning or local documentation requirements.

DSM-5 DiagnosisDSM-mim-medication-induced-acute-dystoniaSupplied local catalogue