Effects of Octanoic Acid for Treatment of Essential Voice Tremor

Summary

Essential voice tremor is a neurological condition that produces a regular, shaking quality in the voice. One form of drug treatment that produces some improvement in tremor of the hands is octanoic acid, which is a food additive that is similar to alcohol. Research suggests that octanoic acid may reduce tremor in the hands/arms with few side effects and no intoxication effects. This study will determine whether octanoic acid may be useful for reducing tremor when it affects the voice. Researchers are hypothesizing that octanoic acid will reduce the effects of tremor on the voice.

Timeline

Start

2013-07

Primary completion

2016-12-22

Completion

2017-03-31

Publications

• Results Haubenberger D, McCrossin G, Lungu C, Considine E, Toro C, Nahab FB, Auh S, Buchwald P, Grimes GJ, Starling J, Potti G, Scheider L, Kalowitz D, Bowen D, Carnie A, Hallett M. Octanoic acid in alcohol-responsive essential tremor: a randomized controlled study. Neurology. 2013 Mar 5;80(10):933-40. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182840c4f. Epub 2013 Feb 13.
• Results Nahab FB, Wittevrongel L, Ippolito D, Toro C, Grimes GJ, Starling J, Potti G, Haubenberger D, Bowen D, Buchwald P, Dong C, Kalowitz D, Hallett M. An open-label, single-dose, crossover study of the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of two oral formulations of 1-octanol in patients with essential tremor. Neurotherapeutics. 2011 Oct;8(4):753-62. doi: 10.1007/s13311-011-0045-1.
• Results Nahab FB, Handforth A, Brown T, Shin C, Quesada A, Dong C, Haubenberger D, Hallett M. Octanoic acid suppresses harmaline-induced tremor in mouse model of essential tremor. Neurotherapeutics. 2012 Jul;9(3):635-8. doi: 10.1007/s13311-012-0121-1.
• Results Shill HA, Bushara KO, Mari Z, Reich M, Hallett M. Open-label dose-escalation study of oral 1-octanol in patients with essential tremor. Neurology. 2004 Jun 22;62(12):2320-2. doi: 10.1212/wnl.62.12.2320.
• Results Bushara KO, Goldstein SR, Grimes GJ Jr, Burstein AH, Hallett M. Pilot trial of 1-octanol in essential tremor. Neurology. 2004 Jan 13;62(1):122-4. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000101722.95137.19.

Drugs

Indications