Use of buspirone for treatment of cerebellar ataxia. An open-label study

J. S. Lou, L. Goldfarb, L. McShane, P. Gatev and M. Hallett
Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of buspirone hydrochloride, a serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine1A) agonist, in treating patients with cerebellar ataxia. DESIGN: Open-label study in which 20 patients (14 with cerebellar cortical atrophy and six with olivopontocerebellar atrophy) received buspirone hydrochloride, up to 60 mg/d, for 8 weeks. SETTING: Research hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical, physiological, and psychological assessment. RESULTS: Nine patients with mild or moderate cerebellar dysfunction who completed the study showed significant improvement in clinical and self-assessment ratings, but not in a motor performance test, posturography (data were incomplete), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Seven patients with severe cerebellar dysfunction who completed the study had no improvement on any measure. CONCLUSIONS: Buspirone may be effective in treating mild to moderate cerebellar ataxia. A double-blind study of the efficacy of buspirone in cerebellar ataxia is warranted.