Frequency of respiratory disorders and bradycardia in essential tremor - consideration of treatment.

Essential tremor (ET) is a common movement disorder and the prevalence rate increases with age. The most frequently prescribed and perhaps the most effective drugs for symptomatic treatment of ET are beta-blocking drugs such as propranolol. Some beta blockers are contraindicated in respiratory disorders (RD) and in cardiac conditions such as bradycardia, the frequency of which is unknown in ET patients. We studied RD and bradycardia (BPM </= 60) in 100 consecutive ET patients. Thirty-seven patients had RD and/or bradycardia - 18 had RD only, 17 bradycardia only and two cases had both). Thirty-two of these cases could not be prescribed a beta-blocking drug and five tolerated less than the optimal dose of propranolol. Our data suggest that respiratory disorders may be more common in ET cases than expected in the general population.