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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffMyoclonus refers to a quick, involuntary muscle jerk. For example, hiccups are a form of myoclonus. So are the sudden jerks, or "sleep starts," you may experience just before falling asleep. These forms of myoclonus occur in healthy people and rarely present a problem.
More severe types of myoclonus can be triggered by an underlying medical condition, such as a head injury or a reaction to a medication.
For effective treatment, you need to discover what's causing your myoclonus symptoms. If the cause of your myoclonus is chronic or unexplained, then treatment focuses on reducing the effects of myoclonus on your quality of life.
