title: Tetrabenazine for tardive tremor in elderly adults: a prospective follow-up study.
abstract: Tardive tremor (TT) is a rare neuroleptic-induced tardive syndrome. It is mainly postural and action associated rather than resting tremor without other parkinsonian features and resistant to most therapeutic interventions. Tetrabenazine (TBZ) is a possible option for treating TT.This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of TBZ in elderly patients with TT. Patients (N = 10) received TBZ (25-150 mg/d) for 6 weeks. Five subjects completed the study. Mean TBZ dose at study end was 57.5 ± 37.3 mg/d. Mean Abnormal Involuntary Movement score was 13.3 ± 6.6, mean Tremor Scale score was 2.3 ± 0.9, mean Clinical Global Impression-Change was 3.6 ± 2.2, and mean Geriatric Depression Score was 5.2 ± 4.9; all not significantly changed from baseline. Five patients suffered side effects, including depression (n = 3), parkinsonism (n = 2), akathisia (n = 1), and mild stroke (n = 1).This prospective study does not support TBZ treatment for TT in elderly psychiatric patients.
authors.affiliation: *Neurology Service and Memory Clinic, Abarbanel Mental Health Center, Bat Yam; †the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv; and ‡Open Psychiatry Department, and §Psychogeriatric Department, Abarbanel Mental Health Center, Bat Yam, Israel.
authors.forename: Diana Paleacu
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kertesz
authors.forename: Marnina Vanetik
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: Shelly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tadger
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Plopski
authors.forename: Yoram
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Barak
mesh_terms: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013747:Tetrabenazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014202:Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D013747:Tetrabenazine