AbstractThe therapeutical benefits ofβ-receptor blocking agents, particularly of Propranolol, in clinical neurology are discussed. The authors report their experience with Propranolol in the treatment of essential tremor and of non-resting tremor in Parkinson’s disease. 45 patients (mean age: 52) with essential tremor reduccd by alcohol were treated with Propranolol 40 mgr t.d. in an open study. Accelerometric and electromyographic recordings were made before and during treatment. 10 patients showed dramatic improvement after Propranolol, 27 had definite therapeutical benefits; in 8 patients the drug was uneffective initially but 4 of them responded well at a second trial. In clinically improved patients, the amplitude of the tremor was reduced, but not its frequency. Adverse effects were neglectible. No therapeutic exhaustion was evident after long term therapy. Pindolol and Practolol had no effect on essential tremor. In 15 patients with Parkinson’s disease and non-resting tremor. Propranolol was compared with classical antiparkinsonian drugs. Propranolol was effective in 77 % of these patients in reducing the disabling non-resting tremor; occasionally this drug was successfully combined with L-Dopa or Amantadine.From the author’s experience and from most reports in the literature it can be concluded that Propranolol is the most effective drug on essential tremor. In addition,β-receptor blocking agents reduce the tremor observed in thyrotoxicosis, anxiety states and alcoholic withdrawal syndromes. They have given promising results as a prophylactic treatment of migraine attacks. The exact mechanisms by which these drugs are effective in neurological disorders remain controversial. It is now well established that Propranolol acts centrally on essential tremor. It has been suggested that this central effect is due to its membrane stabilizing properties. However, this hypothesis remains to be confirmed.