PROPRANOLOL AS AN ADJUNCT THERAPY FOR HYPERTHYROID TREMOR

We evaluated the use of propranolol as an adjunct to carbimazole in th e treatment of hyperthyroid tremor and tachycardia in a double-blind, cross-over and placebo-controlled study. Seven patients were given car bimazole plus either placebo or propranolol (40 mg) for 1 month and th en switched to the alternative adjunct treatment for a further month. All patients showed significant improvements (p < 0.001) of heart rate and tremor amplitude after 1 or 2 months from baseline. One month aft er the baseline, the mean improvements of heart rate were 23% for the carbimazole + placebo group and 38% for carbimazole + propranolol grou p. Tremor also improved during the 1st month of the study by 31% in th e carbimazole + placebo group versus 59% in the carbimazole + proprano lol group. Whereas further improvements were observed in both variable s in those receiving propranolol as the second adjunct treatment, this was not the case in those who received placebo during the same period . These findings confirm that the beta-blocker propranolol is a useful adjunct in the early treatment of both the tremor and tachycardia of hyperthyroidism.