Abstract
Recent pharmacological studies on patients with essential tremor (ET) and physiological tremor have largely centred on the tremolytic action of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (β-blockers) and the tremor-enhancing action of the betaagonists (β-agonists). These studies have indicated possible ‘tremogenic’ areas vulnerable to β-blockade and involvement of peripheral beta-adrenoceptors (β-adrenoceptors) in the production of augmented physiological tremor (APT) (Bowman, 1980). β-Blockers have become the drugs of choice in the management of ET (Wilson et al., this volume, chapter 17) and the tremor associated with other clinical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism (Turner, 1974). The mode of action of β-blockers in treatment of ET has not been established, but loci of activity in the central nervous system (CNS), in the periphery and at both β 1-and β 2-adrenoceptor subtypes could be involved.
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Kilfeather, S., Massarella, A., Turner, P., Findley, L.J. (1984). Beta-adrenoceptor involvement in tremor production: possible defects in essential tremor. In: Findley, L.J., Capildeo, R. (eds) Movement Disorders: Tremor. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06757-2_16
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