Klin Farmakol Farm. 2022;36(4):136-139 | DOI: 10.36290/far.2022.022

Drug-induced tremors

Pavel Filip^{1, 2}, Marek Baláž³

¹ Neurologická klinika, 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy a Všeobecné fakultní nemocnice v Praze

² Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

³ 1. neurologická klinika, Fakultní nemocnice u sv. Anny, Brno

Tremor is the most common movement disorder with several potential causes. There is a multitude of drugs utilised in the clinical practice, which may exacerbate or even cause tremor, the most common ones being amiodarone, valproate, dopamine receptor antagonists, lithium, selective serotonin (and norepinephrine) reuptake inhibitors (SSRI/SNRI) and amitriptyline. Drug-induced tremors usually correspond to enhanced physiological tremor, but, depending on the causal drug, the tremor may be a part of drug-induced parkinsonism. The recognition of tremorgenic drugs may help quick diagnosis, avoid unnecessary tests and lead to adequate actions - usually dose decrease or discontinuation of relevant drug, or its substitution. The aim of this review is to provide physicians and pharmacists with current information on the groups of drugs where a potential association with tremor is to be considered, including the information on possible management of this complication.

Keywords: drug-induced tremor, pathophysiology, drug-induced movement disorders.

Accepted: February 8, 2023; Published: February 8, 2023  Show citation