Life-threatening parkinsonism induced by kava-kava

Authors :: Vicenta Sanchez
Maria Angeles Mena
Rocio Taboada
Elena Meseguer
Justo García de Yébenes
Victor Campos
Source :: Movement Disorders. 17:195-196
Publication Year :: 2002
Publisher :: Wiley, 2002.
Abstract: 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.