[Effect of Coretal Polfa (Oxprenolol) on parkinsonian tremor and benign essential tremor]

Coretal -- an agent blocking the beta-adrenergic receptors -- was given to 12 patients with Parkinson's syndrome with evident tremor and to 4 patients with benign essential tremor. In the group of Parkinson's syndrome the effectiveness of this treatment was evaluated by the blind method. The whole period of observation was 6 weeks, during 3 weeks the patients received Coretal 60-120 mg daily, during the next 3 weeks they were given placebo. The intensity of tremor was assessed by means of a scoring system. Improvement was achieved in 7 patients with Parkinson's syndrome and in 3 out of 4 cases of idiopathic tremor. Complete disappearance of tremor was never observed. Transient side effects were observed in 2 causes. The authors think that Coretal may be used with good result in treatment of parkinsonian tremor and benign essential tremor.