Sertraline and tremors

Thanks Dav39,  You've hit on a number of issues there. Re Parkinson's, there are no straightforward test to prove conclusively, but my GP tried some hand/eye coordination tests and said these would have been difficult to do with Parkinson's (and I dearly want to believe that!). I'm with you on if you can identify the cause the tremors may stop. I suggested to my GP a brief course of Diazepam or similar, and it the trembling stopped then I'd know anxiety is the cause and this would help. However her view was that I might realise the cause was anxiety, but be unable to control it consciously, hence the need for Sertraline!. So I'm left with wondering if the Sertraline is helping or causing the tremors causing the tremors, and, like you imply, am I becoming anxious about having anxiety in a repeating cycle? Thanks again for your comments.

Thanks kerry. In your case it sounds like Sertraline side effects are causing the tremors, as opposed to mine where it's being used to treat them!

With me it's the Lupin brand, blue tablet, the Pharmacist won't give them to me now

Hi GodsServant, Sounds like you have the same predicament to a certain extent - 'side effect or anxiety?' - although I don't suffer panic attacks as such. I can sympathise with the RLS as I had dreadful agitation and twitching legs when weaning myself off Citalopram a year or two ago. Regarding second opinions, there's a year-plus wait to see a neurologist on the NHS in these parts, but I'm also reluctant to start the ball rolling there just yet because of all the implications, even of just a consultation, on such things as obtaining travel insurance, notifying DVLA etc. But mainly cowardice of course :-). Thanks for your help.

No, not cowardice. Its almost like a Je me sa quoi. It's like when I first started this med I used to think every side effect was a symptom of possible new illness or disease I've just contracted. My imagination ran wild, so after awhile, I think my illness just tired me out and I just got to the point where I didn't care anymore. I'd rather not know. If my time is up, then so be it. 

Goodness, you would have to wait a year to get a second opinion? I'd be too lazy, an if it were a really serious true illness, I'd probably be gone by then so why bother wasting all my time with all that admin stuff, so I could relate. Really, if it were Parkinson's I'd think youll find out in a year or before that second opinion time rolls around. Lol. But really, it's probably nothing, a side effect so hang in there. In the past I had my neck checked thinking I had neck cancer, but this time around I suffered 4 months of neck stiffness and kinks, and just when I accepted I would live with the discomfort for the rest of my life it went away. I hope and pray the same for you. Cheers. 

Hi Laurie,

I suspect the shakes will be related to the Sertraline - mine (which is the reason I saw my GP in the first place) didn't go away after being prescribed Sertraline. And they still haven't.

However, I eventually (and a bit reluctantly!) saw a neurologist, who made me perform a few simple hand/eye coordination exercises, plus drawing spirals and writing, and then said I didn't have Parkinson's or other neurological issues, but most likely had an essential tremor, which was minor compared with his (he demonstrated!) and not to worry about it.

In the four months since then I have been reducing my Sertraline from 150mg, by 25mg each month or so, depending on how I feel, so I am now on 75mg, and I feel optimistic and cheerful. But, I still wake up with tremors, which tend to disappear when I get up and about, sometimes, like this morning, feeling like I have 'flu.

Whilst our circumstances are different (me decreasing dose, you increasing) my feelings are:

1. Do go back to your GP and tell him/her - the increase may have been too much too soon

2. If you are worried about other conditions like Parkinson's ask for a referral to a neurologist.

But, like GodServant says in his reply to me (above), you can spend your whole time worrying about every symptom being sinister, when the chances are they aren't. For what it's worth, if my experiences are anything to go by, my money is on your symptoms being related both to your condition and the Sertraline. In my instance, I'm sure the opinions the neurologist must have subconsciously helped me in that I am continuing to reduce my dose slowly (not seen my GP for six months), and intend to continue. I still wake up with the shakes, but now I don't let it worry me and they go away quite quickly.

Apologies if I waffle on, but I sympathise with your predicament - Sertraline does cause tremors in people, and I think that becoming anxious about suffering from anxiety is more common than our GPs think, so go back and discuss your dosage. But (again! ) try not to worry about the tremors, they aren't a sinister symptom, they are only an unpleasant side effect which can make you more anxious about being anxious!

G

Thanks for your reply. I too have come to realise that my tremors are 'like shaking inside' and not really visible, or through my hands, which is reassuring.

You say your tremors are a sign of a possible anxiety attack coming. Mine were the reason I saw my GP, thinking it may be Parkinson's. So I puzzle with the 'chicken and egg' question. Am I/Was I anxious because of the tremors, or, like it seems in your case, the tremors appear because I am anxious?

Originally I asked my GP for a short course of an anti-anxiety drug (diazepam?) so that if the symptoms disappeared, at least I would know it was anxiety and be able to deal with it.

She doubted my logic, probably for the reason that I might know it was anxiety, but be unable to locate or deal with its cause, so she put me on Sertraline. Also GPs here are deterred from prescribing more than a week's supply of diazepam as it is considered addictive. 

Fifteen months on I suspect we both were correct to a degree. I still don't know what is causing my anxiety, but at least know that the tremors are probably caused by it and by nothing more sinister! What joy!