LONG-TERM THERAPY OF ESSENTIAL TREMOR WITH FLUNARIZINE

We investigated the effect of long-term treatment of essential tremor (ET) with flunarizine (Fz) (10 mg/day) in 17 subjects who had a favora ble response to 1 month of treatment. Side effects (dystonia, parkinso nism, weight gain and depression) occurred in 29.4% (5/17) of patients , leading to drug discontinuation. Fz was still effective at the end o f 30 months of treatment in 41% (7/17) of patients. Loss of efficacy w as observed in 29.4% (5/17) of patients. It is concluded that Fz is an alternative for long-term treatment of patients with ET; however, los s of efficacy and side effects are common.