Topiramate for essential tremor: More research needed

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2017) DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009683.pub2

People with essential tremor experience uncontrolled movements of their arms and, less commonly, their head, legs and voice. The symptoms are typically progressive and in certain patients may cause serious disability. Some sufferers may even need to change job or retire early.

Essential tremor is relatively common. Indeed, between 0.9% and 2.2% of the population has essential tremor, rising to 4.6% among people over 65 years of age. Unfortunately, propranolol and primidone, the first-line drugs, are ineffective in 25% to 55% of patients and commonly cause serious adverse events. This prompted some specialists to propose that topiramate might offer a potential treatment.