Pharmacologic treatment of essential tremor

Abstract

Essential tremor (ET) is a common movement disorder that often causes functional disability, potentially leading to physical and emotional difficulties. The paucity of data available regarding the underlying pathophysiologic mechanism of ET hinders the development of innovative approaches to pharmacotherapeutic treatments. Options for drug therapy include the use of primidone, beta-adrenergic blockers, such as propranolol, alcohol, and other drugs, such as benzodiazepines, gabapentin, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, clozapine, flunarizine, clonidine, and the methylxanthine derivative theophylline. Chemodenervation with botulinum toxin type A may be a therapeutic option for selected patients with ET. Each drug is classified as to the quality of evidence for efficacy and the suggested strength of therapeutic recommendation. In general clinical practice, primidone and propranolol have proven efficacy in ET.