Evaluation of an experimental anticholinergic drug, elantrine, in treating the tremor of parkinsonism.

An experimental anticholinergic drug, elantrine, had shown significant improvement in tremor of parkinsonism in 89 patients not taking L-dopa. A double-blind study of 22 parkinsonian patients stabilized on L-dopa showed marked improvement in tremor and moderate improvement in rigidity and bradykinesia when elantrine was added to their treatment program. Nine of 15 patients taking L-dopa (or Sinemet) and elantrine had cessation of all tremor and have continued free of tremor to date, over two years.