The effect of small doses of primidone on the postural component of tremor in patients with essential tremor is generally known. The objective of the present investigation was to test the possible positive effect of primidone on postural tremor encountered within the framework of different neurological diseases. The total daily dose of primidone exceeded the commonly used daily dose of 250 mg of primidone per day. The group of 92 patients was divided into four sub-groups. The first one c omprised patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, the second one patients with essential tremor who did not respond to smaller doses of primidone (usually 250 mg primidone/day). The third sub-group was represented by patients with postural cerebellar or brain stem tremor. The fourth sub-group comprised patients with different neurological diseases (cervical dystonia, cerebrovascular disease, multisystem atrophy). The effect of therapy was evaluated according to the Fahn-Toloda scale, self-evaluation of the patient and repeated videorecords. In the whole group of 92 patients primidone caused a significant reduction of the postural tremor in all investigated sub-groups. In the first sub-group a positive effect was observed in 84.2% with a mean daily dose of 653 mg primidone per day. In the sub-group of patients with essential tremor the effect of treatment was manifested after a daily dose of 552 mg/day in 77.4%. Higher doses were effective also in the third and fourth sub-group of patients (72.4% and 61.5%).

        Key words: postural tremor, primidone