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Published on: December 13, 2017
Sustained Medication Reduction Following Unilateral VIM Thalamic Stimulation for Essential Tremor
Andrew S Resnick1, Michael S Okun, Teresita Malapira
1Department of Neurology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Tampa, Florida, United States of America ; UF Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for essential tremor (ET) often allows patients to stop anti-tremor medications. Most patients discontinued medication either before or within a year after DBS surgery.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a key treatment for essential tremor (ET) that doesn't respond to medication.
- Assessing medication reduction post-DBS is crucial for treatment evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if deep brain stimulation (DBS) enables reduction or cessation of anti-tremor medications in essential tremor (ET) patients within one year post-surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review and telephone interviews were conducted.
- The study included 34 patients diagnosed with essential tremor (ET) who underwent unilateral DBS.
Main Results:
- 91% of patients stopped anti-tremor medications post-DBS.
- Medication cessation occurred before surgery in 62% and within a year after surgery in 29% of patients.
- Only 9% continued beta-blockers post-operatively, primarily for hypertension.
Conclusions:
- Unilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) is associated with high rates of anti-tremor medication cessation in essential tremor (ET) patients.
- DBS can lead to significant medication reduction, improving patient management.
