Due to insufficient good quality data and lack of randomised studies, it is impossible to determine whether drug treatment is safe and effective in the treatment of myotonia. Larger, well-designed randomised controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of drug treatment for myotonia.
The treatment of myotonia: evaluation of chronic oral taurine therapy.
A double-blind, single crossover study of chronic oral taurine administration versus placebo was conducted on nine patients with dystrophia myotonica. The severity of myotonia was assessed by clinical and electromyographic criteria and by testing the sensitivity of myotonic muscles to the intra-arterial infusion of potassium chloride. Confirming the antimyotonic effect of acute parenteral taurine, chronic treatment induced significant improvement of myotonia and a decreased sensitivity to the arterial potassium load as well as an enhancement of electrolyte movements across the membrane of the studied muscles. No significant side effects were noted.