Abstract
We studied the acute and chronic effects of propranolol and primidone in essential tremor by administering long-acting propranolol (80 to 160 mg/d) and primidone (50 to 250 mg/d) to 50 patients. We evaluated patients at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment and assessed tremor by subjective rating by patients, clinical scoring, and tremorgraphic (accelerometer) recordings. Acute adverse reactions occurred in 8% with propranolol and 32% with primidone. Propranolol was without therapeutic effect in 30%, and 32% had no benefit from primidone. Significant chronic side effects occurred in 17% taking propranolol and in 0% with primidone. Tolerance to drug effect occurred with chronic treatment in 12.5% of patients with propranolol and 13.0% with primidone. We conclude that propranolol and primidone are effective long-term treatment for some patients with essential tremor. Acute adverse reactions with primidone and side effects with chronic use of propranolol hamper therapy.
- © 1989 by the American Academy of Neurology
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
