Perampanel: Medical Alternative for Essential Tremor?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of perampanel in patients with refractory essential tremor (ET).

METHODS: We recruited patients from our movement disorders clinic with the diagnosis of severe refractory ET, and perampanel 4 mg at night was initiated.Assessments were conducted at baseline and after 1 month of treatment with perampanel 4 mg/d. Details about tolerance and effectiveness were collected. Clinical evaluation was conducted with the Fahn-Tolosa-Marín scale, and statistical analysis was carried out with Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test.

RESULTS: This study included 18 patients with severe ET (11 females, 7 males; mean age: 75.1 ± 12.03 years; mean duration of ET: 17.4 ± 17.03 years). Perampanel significantly improved patients' average score with refractory ET (P ≤ 0.0001). This improvement has been occasionally quite relevant. However, a proportion of patients did not tolerate perampanel because of several adverse effects including dizziness, ataxia, irritability, and instability.

CONCLUSIONS: Perampanel had a markedly positive antitremor effect in patients with ET and could be an alternative treatment. However, this drug is not devoid of adverse effects.