Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42289551›Full record

ArticleNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2026

A scoping review about the efficacy of clonazepam for the treatment of benign essential blepharospasm.

Angelo Torrente, Paolo Alonge, Antonia Pignolo, Eloise Lo Mauro, Roberto Monastero, Angelo Labate

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Angelo TorrenteDepartment of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0585-8351
Paolo AlongeDepartment of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-3627-8974
Antonia PignoloDepartment of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8883-5701
Eloise Lo MauroDepartment of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-2418-3240
Roberto MonasteroDepartment of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. roberto.monastero@unipa.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2829-523X
Angelo LabateDepartment of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8827-7324

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBenign Essential Blepharospasm (BEB) is a focal dystonia that leads to an increased rate of eyelid closure due to involuntary activation of the orbicularis oculi muscles. In severe cases, daily activities can significantly be affected, with reduced quality of life. Injections of OnabotulinumtoxinA are often used as valid therapeutical option. However, this treatment may not be tolerated by all patients, considering its invasive nature and the need for access to specialized centers. Despite oral agents, such as benzodiazepines (particularly clonazepam), are often used as a first-line treatment, evidence regarding their efficacy remains fragmentary.

objectiveThis scoping review aims to evaluate the current evidence for the efficacy of clonazepam for benign essential blepharospasm.

methodsArticles in English about the use of clonazepam in the treatment of BEB were searched for in three major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane).

resultsThe search yielded 259 results. After screening, 13 papers were sought for retrieval. After assessing their suitability, 2 articles were included in the review: one open-label trial and one case report. Despite some limitations, both showed the effectiveness of clonazepam in BEB.

conclusionAlthough some evidence supports the use of clonazepam in the treatment of BEB, high-quality studies are still needed to clarify aspects such as response rates, optimal dose, and other disease management issues. This information may be useful for clinicians who are unable to refer their patients to specialized centers and must rely on their own experience and anecdotal evidence for patient management.

Indexed as

BlepharospasmClonazepamGABA ModulatorsHumansTreatment OutcomeClonazepamGABA ModulatorsBenign essential blepharospasmBenzodiazepinesClonazepamDystonia

Identifiers

PMID42289551
PMCPMC13265599

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.