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Relative Efficacy of Alcohol and Propranolol in Action Tremor

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

A.H. Rajput ,
H. Jamieson ,
S. Hirsh  and
A. Quraishi
A.H. Rajput*
Affiliation:
University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
H. Jamieson
Affiliation:
University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S. Hirsh
Affiliation:
University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
A. Quraishi
Affiliation:
University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
*
University Hospital, Saskatoon, Canada S7N 0W8
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Thirty-nine patients with a variety of diseases, including essential tremor, Parkinsonߣs Disease, olivopontocerebellar degeneration, ataxia telangiectasia, and cervical cord injury with action tremor, were evaluated for the effect of one ounce of absolute alcohol ingestion. Tremor significantly subsided in 61.9% of E.T.; 46.6% of P.D.; one patient with A.T.; and one patient with C6 lesion. The tremor became worse in one patient with O.P.C.D. Twenty of these patients were treated with propranolol, an average dose of 92 mgm. per day, and re-evaluated three to six months later. All those who improved on alcohol improved on propranolol and the one whose tremor accentuated with alcohol had a similar response to propranolol. It is concluded that the tremorilytic effect of alcohol is neither specific for, nor limited to, essential tremor and is of no value in differentiating various neurological disorders which manifest as action tremor. It is recommended that one ounce of absolute alcohol by mouth be used as an office procedure to predict the response of patientsߣ tremor to propranolol.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , February 1975 , pp. 31 - 35
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1975

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