Objective: Resting tremor might be developed by long-term treatment of dopamine receptor antagonists in cases of drug-induced parkinsonism

Background: Resting tremor is one of the common features in patients with Parkinson’s disease, however, resting tremor has been believed to be rare in drug-induced parkinsonism. We observed drug-induced parkinsonism with resting tremor on cases of long-term treatment of dopamine – receptor antagonists (antipsychotics).

Method: We found 5 cases developing resting tremor in drug-induced parkinsonism over 2-year period. The ages of onset exhibiting resting tremor, the disorders treated with dopamine-receptor antagonists, the course of resting tremor or parkinsonism were studied on the cases, including DATSPECT imaging and MIBG scintigram.

Results: Below is the summary of these case. The ages of cases were between teenage and seventies, the durations of medications were between 10 to 50 years and the duration of resting tremor were 2 to over 10 years. DATSPECT imaging and MIBG scintigram revealed no abnomalities.

Conclusion:

Resting tremor has been believed to be rare in drug-induced parkinsonism. This is true in cases induced by dopamine-receptor antagonists such as sulpiride or metoclopramide usually applied in general internal medicine. Most cases visited neurology clinics in a few weeks or months on the treatments. However, resting tremor might not be rare in cases of parkinsonism induced by long-term treatment with antipsychotics.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/drug-induced-parkinsonism-with-resting-tremor/