Neurochemistry and Neuropharmacology of Essential Tremor

The neurochemical mechanisms for essential tremor are unknown, as there is no good experimental model for this disease and only a few post-mortem studies have been reported. Alterations of the dopaminergic, serotonergic, GABAergic, noradrenergic and adrenergic systems have been described, and are the object of this revision. The most consistent data are related with the GABAergic, dopaminergic and adrenergic systems. The pharmacological treatments that have demonstrated greatest efficacy for essential tremor are the beta-blockers propranolol and primidone. The efficacy of other drugs, such as antiepileptic drugs, calcium antagonists, amantadine, clozapine, olanzapine, alprazolam, theophylline, etc., has not been clearly demonstrated. In some cases resistant to pharmacotherapy, infiltrations with botulinum toxin type A have been described as effective.

Keywords: Essential tremor, genetics, family history, linkage studies, genetic polymorphisms.