Title:Current and Future Neuropharmacological Options for the Treatment of Essential Tremor
Volume: 18
Issue: 6
Author(s): Hortensia Alonso-Navarro, Elena García-Martín , José A.G. Agúndez and Félix J. Jiménez-Jiménez*
Affiliation:
- Section of Neurology, Hospital Universitario del Sureste, Arganda del Rey, Madrid,Spain
Keywords:
Essential tremor, neuropharmacology, beta-blockers, primidone, antiepileptic drugs, gap-junction blockers,
experimental treatment.
Abstract:
Background: Essential Tremor (ET) is likely the most frequent movement disorder. In
this review, we have summarized the current pharmacological options for the treatment of this disorder
and discussed several future options derived from drugs tested in experimental models of ET
or from neuropathological data.
Methods: A literature search was performed on the pharmacology of essential tremors using
PubMed Database from 1966 to July 31, 2019.
Results: To date, the beta-blocker propranolol and the antiepileptic drug primidone are the drugs
that have shown higher efficacy in the treatment of ET. Other drugs tested in ET patients have
shown different degrees of efficacy or have not been useful.
Conclusion: Injections of botulinum toxin A could be useful in the treatment of some patients with
ET refractory to pharmacotherapy. According to recent neurochemical data, drugs acting on the
extrasynaptic GABAA receptors, the glutamatergic system or LINGO-1 could be interesting therapeutic
options in the future.