Phenylethylmalonamide in essential tremor. A double-blind controlled study.

A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of phenylethylmalonamide, the major metabolite of primidone was performed in eight patients with essential tremor. Phenylethylmalonamide was given in a daily dose of 400 mg for one week and 800 mg for a second week. The compound had no statistically significant effect on the amplitude of tremor assessed by an accelerometric method, tests of performance, clinical evaluation and patient self assessment. No side effects occurred. Serum levels of phenylethylmalonamide on a daily dose of 400 mg were 11-27 micrograms/ml and on 800 mg daily were 16-48.5 micrograms/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry is the property of BMJ Publishing Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)