title: Life-threatening parkinsonism induced by kava-kava.
abstract: We present a 45-year-old female with severe parkinsonism induced by kava-kava. The patient, who had a family history of essential tremor, developed severe and persistent parkinsonism after days of treatment with kava extract for anxiety. The symptoms improved with anticholinergics. Kava derivatives could produce severe parkinsonism in individuals with genetic susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meseguer
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taboada
authors.forename: Vicenta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: María Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mena
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Justo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García De Yébenes
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020901:Kava / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014202:Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007980:Levodopa; D002230:Carbidopa