Glutethimide treatment of disabling action tremor in patients with multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury
M. L. Aisen, M. Holzer, M. Rosen, M. Dietz and F. McDowell
Burke Rehabilitation Center, White Plains, NY 10605.
Glutethimide has been used to control essential tremor. Its efficacy in the
treatment of disabling cerebellar and rubral tremor was assessed in an open
study of six patients with multiple sclerosis and two patients with
traumatic brain injury. Functional and quantitative tremor severity was
assessed before treatment and 7 to 14 days after a stable dose was
achieved. Six of eight patients exhibited visible functional benefit from
treatment with glutethimide; abstract testing results correlated well with
functional status in most cases. Four patients chose to continue to receive
medication. Controlled trials of glutethimide to compare its efficacy with
that of other medications used in the treatment of action tremor are
indicated.
