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What Are The Side Effects Of Primidone?
Posted on
Fri, 27 Jan 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 27 Jan 2017
Answered on
Fri, 17 Feb 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : I have been diagnosed with familial tremors. I have tried using Primidone. I experienced side effects of dreams and my wife thought my thinking had slowed down. Not wishing to have that happen I discontinued the Primidone. It seems my tremors are gradually getting worse. Is there any thing else that has less side effects and is more effective? YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
Propranolol can be considered.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
There are two main medications for essential tremor treatment. One is Primidone which you have tried, the other is Propranolol. In terms of efficacy they are more or less the same, but generally Propranolol is preferred for younger patients while Primidone for elderly ones which is why I think your doctor correctly tried that one first. The reason for that is that Propranolol is a drug which has effects on lowering blood pressure and slowing heart rate. It also acts on the airways reason for which it may be contraindicated in patients with lung issues. Because heart, blood pressure, lung issues are common in the elderly Primidone is preferred as first choice.
Of course if you can't live with its side effects Propranolol should be considered, if you have no contraindications related to heart and lung issues it may well be used in your case as well.
As for other options at times drugs like clonazepam or topiramate have also been used, but apart from being less effective they can potentially cause the same side effects as Primidone.
There is also the option of brain surgery, minimally invasive, but that is reserved to cases where medication options have been exhausted.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Propranolol can be considered.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
There are two main medications for essential tremor treatment. One is Primidone which you have tried, the other is Propranolol. In terms of efficacy they are more or less the same, but generally Propranolol is preferred for younger patients while Primidone for elderly ones which is why I think your doctor correctly tried that one first. The reason for that is that Propranolol is a drug which has effects on lowering blood pressure and slowing heart rate. It also acts on the airways reason for which it may be contraindicated in patients with lung issues. Because heart, blood pressure, lung issues are common in the elderly Primidone is preferred as first choice.
Of course if you can't live with its side effects Propranolol should be considered, if you have no contraindications related to heart and lung issues it may well be used in your case as well.
As for other options at times drugs like clonazepam or topiramate have also been used, but apart from being less effective they can potentially cause the same side effects as Primidone.
There is also the option of brain surgery, minimally invasive, but that is reserved to cases where medication options have been exhausted.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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