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Life‐threatening parkinsonism induced by kava‐kava
Author(s) -
Meseguer Elena,
Taboada Rocio,
Sánchez Vicenta,
Mena María Angeles,
Campos Victor,
García de Yébenes Justo
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.1268
Subject(s) - kava , parkinsonism , medicine , anxiety , traditional medicine , psychiatry , disease
We present a 45‐year‐old female with severe parkinsonism induced by kava‐kava. The patient, who had a family history of essential tremor, developed severe and persistent parkinsonism after days of treatment with kava extract for anxiety. The symptoms improved with anticholinergics. Kava derivatives could produce severe parkinsonism in individuals with genetic susceptibility. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society.