Patients should not abruptly discontinue their treatment with a beta-adrenergic blocking agent such as propranolol. Physicians typically work with patients to establish a schedule of a gradual reduction in dosage. In this way, patients are slowly weaned from the medication. Primidone, an anticonvulsant medication related to phenobarbital, slows the central nervous system and helps to reduce or control seizure activity in certain types of epilepsy. In addition, primidone is considered a first-line therapy for the treatment of patients with essential tremor.
Most clinicians recommend that patients start with half of a fifty tablet of primidone.
Six studies have been conducted to determine the rate of response to primidone. However, some patients will not respond to primidone therapy. Patients should not abruptly discontinue therapy with primidone. After consultation with a physician, the dosage is reduced gradually. When treatment with primidone is initiated, some patients experience an acute idiosyncratic toxic response to the drug.