The effect of the GABA-agonist, progabide, on benign essential tremor. A controlled clinical trial.

In a double-blind crossover trial of two 2-week treatment periods, to which 18 patients with benign essential tremor were admitted, there was no statistically significant different between progabide 11.4-20.2 mg/kg X day (median 14.2 mg/kg X day) and placebo in tremor score and tremor amplitude. However, there was a definite placebo and period effect with reduction of tremor score and tremor amplitude during the second period of treatment compared to the first period of treatment, regardless of the treatment regime. This was presumably a result of prolonged treatment and habituation to the test situation and not an effect of the active drug. No side-effects were registered and no laboratory abnormalities were seen.