[Botulinum toxin in the treatment of tremor]

Pharmacological treatment of essential and symptomatic tremor is not satisfactory. Introduction of botulinum toxin (BTX) has brought a new approach to tremor treatment. BTX is injected into carpal flexors and extensors about 100 i.u. into each muscle, higher doses are injected into flexors and lower into extensors. Beneficial results are observed in 50 to 67% of the patients. The author treated 5 patients with tremor of various origin with good result in 3 cases (60%), but in all cases weakness of hand muscles and middle finger dropping were observed. BTX treatment is indicated in certain cases of hand disabled by tremor.