Cognitive decline, myoclonus, hyperreflexia and ataxia in an elderly patient: case reportA 68-year-old woman developed cognitive decline, negative myoclonus, deep tendon hyperreflexia and ataxia while receiving various drugs, including alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, paroxetine, simvastatin, trazodone and trihexyphenidyl [indications, routes and durations of treatment to reactions onset not stated].The woman was brought to the emergency room with activation of the Green Route for stroke after her son noticed that she was unable to use cutlery with her right hand. Her symptoms had started 6 months previously, and consisted of confusion and difficulty in performing daily activities. A neurological examination revealed that she was disorientated in time and space, with negative multifocal myoclonus and deep tendon hyperreflexia. She was taken off the Green Route, and was hospitalised with a suspected diagnosis of rapidly progressive cognitive dysfunction of unknown cause. Three days later, a neurocognitive assessment revealed persistent disorientation, utilisation behaviour, perseveration, constructional apraxia and remission of the myoclonus. She had a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 16/30. Her current medications were as follows: alprazolam 1 mg/day, chlordiazepoxide 5 mg/day, paroxetine 90 mg/day, simavastatin 40 mg/day, trazodone 150 mg/day, trihexyphenidyl 4 mg/day, clidinium bromide, betahistine, deflazacort, omeprazole, propranolol, citicoline, trimetazidine, alfuzosin, otilonium bromide, aceclofenac, celecoxib, etoricoxib and glucosamine.All of the woman's long-term medication was discontinued. She was discharged on hospital day 9 for outpatient therapy with an MMSE score of 29/30. She was referred for a neurological consultation to rule out any basic cognitive dysfunction.Author comment: The antidepressants, and also their interaction, may explain the presence of negative myoclonus, through an increase in serotonergic transmission. The same mechanism could explain the discovery of deep tendon hyperreflexia. The ataxia is probably attributable to the taking of two benzodiazepines. These drugs, in combination with simvastatin and trihexiphenidyl, will have had an impact on the attentiveness, disorientation and psychic retardation shown by the patient. Caldeira L, et al. Cognitive decline of medicamentous etiology. Acta Medica Portuguesa 27: 266-268, No. 2, Apr 2014 [Portuguese; summarised from a translation] -Portugal