Double-blind controlled study of primidone in essential tremor: Preliminary results

Abstract

Essential tremor is a common, monosymptomatic disorder for which no predictable and completely satisfactory drug treatment is available. Primidone, a well-established anticonvulsant, has been reported to be highly effective, but this has been based on only uncontrolled clinical observations. The authors report the preliminary results of a double-blind placebo-controlled study of primidone in essential tremor obtained using an objective recording technique. Their results support the findings that primidone consistently improves essential tremor and may be of value in long-term symptomatic control of this condition. It may be represent an alternative to propranolol, hitherto the drug of choice in this disorder, particularly in patients in whom beta-adrenoceptor-blocking drugs are contraindicated.