Palatal Myoclonus - Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated May 2021
Due to multiple inquiries as to other avenues to try to get relief and or "cure" PM, I decided to include them directly on this site. These have been accumulated from various sources including numerous medical papers, and from other PM patients. Please note that every person is different, there are many causes of PM and thus each treatment affects each patient differently. What works for one patient may or may not provide relief for another.
Frequently asked questions:
What has worked for treating PM? (Please note that some of these worked for my son, some did NOT, and some we NEVER tried. They are being included for your own trial and error based on other patients with PM who have had success.)
Medications: Clonazepam (Klonopin), Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Risperidone (Risperdal), Guanfacine (Tenex), Carbamazepine, Topiratmate sprinkles (Topomax), Botox, Sertraline (Zoloft), Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Diazepam, Valproic Acid (Valproate), Valium, Trileptal, Alprazolam (Xanax), Gabapentin (Neurontin), Pregabalin (Lyrica), Levetiracetam, Piracetam, Trihexyphenidyl, Duloxetine (Cymbalta), Piracetam, Patulend, trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
Supplements: Magnesium, Epsom salt baths, Calcium with Vitamin D, 5HTP
Dietary Changes: Dairy free, gluten free, sugar free, no artificial sweeteners, caffeine free
Office Procedures: Botox directly into the soft palate, night splints, massage, Japanese acupuncture (Toyo-hari), Chinese acupuncture, functional cranial release (FCR), IVIG, food allergy testing, Osteopathic cranial massage, Cranial sacral, chiropractic adjustments
Surgical Options: Microvascular decompression surgery, styloidectomy, radio frequency ablation, tensor veli palatini tenotomy, occlusion of the Eustachian tube
Herbs or non-pharmacological: cocculus, Ayurveda, Grapine, Acetyl-CH, L-theanine, magnesium, narayani rememedie
Other non-medical ideas: Massage, deep breathing exercises, Yoga, meditation, laying still, laying face down, message around the jaw area, playing music really loud with headphones, avoiding movement, eating, sleeping, changing head position, Life-wave energy patches, energy healer, hypnosis
Has anyone been cured of PM? Yes. I am aware of a few people via research and social media who have been "cured". Cures have been accomplished in the following ways:
FCR: FCR alone has brought peace and/ or a cure to some PM patients. Peace means they click when they swallow and may have bad days from time to time, but clicking is less and not as bothersome. Some needed followup treatment when symptoms returned. (Please note that results vary from patient to patient and there are patients who did not get any relief.) Link
Acupuncture and magnesium: One woman is cured from PM but still has occasional popping and clicking when she is very stressed, but overall feels she is cured. She used a combination of magnesium and Toyohari acupuncture. See the testimonial at this link.
Radio Frequency Ablation: Radio Frequency Ablation of the soft palate cured a patient with PM. Link
Pressure changes from an airplane ride: One PM person was cured by a simple airplane ride—as atmospheric pressure changes so does the pressure in the middle ear. My own son and others have experienced temporary ceasing of palate tremor after a plane ride.
Botox: Some are cured by Botox meaning that for a period of time (anywhere from three months to three years) they can actually forget about their PM.
Microvascular Decompression Surgery (MVD): MVD has created a temporary cure for three cases of PM. Each case got decompression of different vessel. MVD is documented to last anywhere from two years to ten years for other medical issues. Link
Valproic Acid: One young girl was cured after using Valproic acid for an undisclosed period of time. Link
What kind of doctor diagnoses PM? Treats PM? PM crosses different medical specialties. You may find a physician who is familiar with PM if they are either an Otolaryngologist (ENT) or a neurologist who specialize in either MS or movement disorders. Neurologists may prescribe most of the medications listed above.
How do I know if I have PM? If you have an audible clicking noise in your ears that can be heard by others near you, you may have PM. Some, but not all, PM patients can also see the pulsing of the soft palate by using a flashlight to look at the roof of their mouths. The pulsing is in synch with the clicking sound in the ears. If you have pain along with your PM, please see the neuralgia link on this site. Not everyone with PM experiences pain.
Frequently asked questions:
What has worked for treating PM? (Please note that some of these worked for my son, some did NOT, and some we NEVER tried. They are being included for your own trial and error based on other patients with PM who have had success.)
Medications: Clonazepam (Klonopin), Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Risperidone (Risperdal), Guanfacine (Tenex), Carbamazepine, Topiratmate sprinkles (Topomax), Botox, Sertraline (Zoloft), Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Diazepam, Valproic Acid (Valproate), Valium, Trileptal, Alprazolam (Xanax), Gabapentin (Neurontin), Pregabalin (Lyrica), Levetiracetam, Piracetam, Trihexyphenidyl, Duloxetine (Cymbalta), Piracetam, Patulend, trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
Supplements: Magnesium, Epsom salt baths, Calcium with Vitamin D, 5HTP
Dietary Changes: Dairy free, gluten free, sugar free, no artificial sweeteners, caffeine free
Office Procedures: Botox directly into the soft palate, night splints, massage, Japanese acupuncture (Toyo-hari), Chinese acupuncture, functional cranial release (FCR), IVIG, food allergy testing, Osteopathic cranial massage, Cranial sacral, chiropractic adjustments
Surgical Options: Microvascular decompression surgery, styloidectomy, radio frequency ablation, tensor veli palatini tenotomy, occlusion of the Eustachian tube
Herbs or non-pharmacological: cocculus, Ayurveda, Grapine, Acetyl-CH, L-theanine, magnesium, narayani rememedie
Other non-medical ideas: Massage, deep breathing exercises, Yoga, meditation, laying still, laying face down, message around the jaw area, playing music really loud with headphones, avoiding movement, eating, sleeping, changing head position, Life-wave energy patches, energy healer, hypnosis
Has anyone been cured of PM? Yes. I am aware of a few people via research and social media who have been "cured". Cures have been accomplished in the following ways:
FCR: FCR alone has brought peace and/ or a cure to some PM patients. Peace means they click when they swallow and may have bad days from time to time, but clicking is less and not as bothersome. Some needed followup treatment when symptoms returned. (Please note that results vary from patient to patient and there are patients who did not get any relief.) Link
Acupuncture and magnesium: One woman is cured from PM but still has occasional popping and clicking when she is very stressed, but overall feels she is cured. She used a combination of magnesium and Toyohari acupuncture. See the testimonial at this link.
Radio Frequency Ablation: Radio Frequency Ablation of the soft palate cured a patient with PM. Link
Pressure changes from an airplane ride: One PM person was cured by a simple airplane ride—as atmospheric pressure changes so does the pressure in the middle ear. My own son and others have experienced temporary ceasing of palate tremor after a plane ride.
Botox: Some are cured by Botox meaning that for a period of time (anywhere from three months to three years) they can actually forget about their PM.
Microvascular Decompression Surgery (MVD): MVD has created a temporary cure for three cases of PM. Each case got decompression of different vessel. MVD is documented to last anywhere from two years to ten years for other medical issues. Link
Valproic Acid: One young girl was cured after using Valproic acid for an undisclosed period of time. Link
What kind of doctor diagnoses PM? Treats PM? PM crosses different medical specialties. You may find a physician who is familiar with PM if they are either an Otolaryngologist (ENT) or a neurologist who specialize in either MS or movement disorders. Neurologists may prescribe most of the medications listed above.
How do I know if I have PM? If you have an audible clicking noise in your ears that can be heard by others near you, you may have PM. Some, but not all, PM patients can also see the pulsing of the soft palate by using a flashlight to look at the roof of their mouths. The pulsing is in synch with the clicking sound in the ears. If you have pain along with your PM, please see the neuralgia link on this site. Not everyone with PM experiences pain.