Metoprolol for action tremor following intracerebral hemorrhage

Abstract

Tremor has been rarely described as a manifestation of stroke. A 21-year-old left-handed man developed severe action tremor of his distal left upper extremity and hand following a right parieto-occipital intracerebral hemorrhage. Strength of the left upper extremity improved gradually during a 3-month period but a severe action tremor developed. The patient was treated with the cardioselective beta-blocking agent, metoprolol, initially for elevated blood pressure and tachycardia at 25mg twice daily for approximately 2 months. Metoprolol was then increased at weekly intervals by 25mg twice daily to a total of 100mg twice daily. Tremor intensity decreased clinically and graphically as monitored by a trace test by having the patient attempt to trace a horizontal and vertical axis and scoring the errors. The scores declined weekly from the first week (4,347), second week (3,786), third week (1,088), to the fourth week (484). No adverse cognitive or cardiopulmonary effects were noted. Action tremor should be considered as one of the movement disorders caused by hemorrhagic cerebral infarction. This case responded well to treatment with metoprolol.