Failure of buspirone and verapamil to improve spasmodic torticollis.

The effects of buspirone and verapamil on spasmodic torticollis were investigated in two double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover studies. Buspirone was given in doses of 20-100 mg/day for 4 weeks to 14 patients; verapamil was given in doses of 40-100 mg/day for 3 weeks to 8 patients. Neither drug improved symptoms of the movement disorder (posture, motility, rigidity, tremor), pain, perceived stress, or mood, either in the whole group or in any individual patient.