Transient choreiform dyskinesias during alcohol withdrawal.

Three chronic alcoholics developed choreiform dyskinesias involving the face, lips, tongue and, in one case, all limbs; 2 patients for the first time, 9 to 10 days after alcohol withdrawal. These abnormalities improved spontaneously with maintained abstinence from alcohol for 2 to 7 weeks. None had a family history of movement disorder, there was no history of other psychoactive drug use or abuse, and there was no evidence of portal-systemic encephalopathy.