Essential tremor (ET): drug treatment
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Essential tremor (ET): drug treatment. Propranolol, Primidone. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Level A: established effective
- Propranolol
- Primidone
Level B: probably effective
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Level C: possibly effective
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Level U: insufficient evidence
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Ineffective
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Recent reports
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Absolute contraindications to beta blockers
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Relative contraindications to beta blockers
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References
- Zesiewicz TA, Elble RJ, Louis ED, et al. Evidence-based guideline update: treatment of essential tremor. Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology 2011; 77:1752-1755.
- Deuschl G, Raethjen J, Hellriegel H, Elbe R. Treatment of patients with essential tremor. Lancet Neurol 2011; 10:148-161.
- Ferreira JJ, Mestre TA, Lyons KE, et al; MDS Task Force on Tremor and the MDS Evidence Based Medicine Committee. MDS evidence-based review of treatments for essential tremor. Mov Disord 2019; 34:950-958.
- Dash D, Bruno V, Schwingenschuh P, et al. Update on medical treatments for essential tremor: an International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Evidence-Based Medicine Review. Mov Disord 2026; 41:815-825.
- Abboud H, Ahmed A, Fernandez HH. Essential tremor: choosing the right management plan for your patient. Cleve Clin J Med 2011; 78:821-828.
