What treatments for Essential Tremor have you found to be most beneficial?

Posted , 5 users are following.

I'm 19 and although I know shakes since mid-adolesence, just now they're being a true nuisance. I've tried propranolol but hated it. It gave me a depression feel, made me lose sleep and might also have caused some mood swings. Tremors do subside with it, but not enough for me to fully accept the side-effects and be content with the drug. I know anti-seizures ones help, but side-effects aren't that better either, they can actually be worse. With that in mind, I decided to reach you here and ask for advice.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Posted

    I don't see an edit button, but I'd also like to ask if anxiety pills are effective.

  • Posted

    It's propranolol that works for me 1 80 mg slow release a day is enough.

    ive heard Topamax can be used

    • Posted

      Topamax looks like a nasty drug as well.
    • Posted

      Well I had to take a view on this as the propranolol significantly reduces the tremors. 

      Compared to before I took it ?

      In the year before I had fallen down the stairs 3 times breaking bones. Had a couple of black eyes banging my head on door frames and wasn’t safe driving due to the leg tremors, is also badly burnt myself with spilling hot drinks.  So all in all I can put up with a bit of dizziness/breathlessness and weight increase as I function better on it and have my life back. 

    • Posted

      Ps just to add that I take a slow release capsule with breakfast, it doesn’t disturb my sleep pattern at all, all the best
  • Posted

    I just remembered a friend of mine 80yrs old takes dopamine and swears by it
  • Posted

    I've had ET for many years and have given up on meds for now. Too many side-effects. I just try and find ways round it; I hold my cup/glass with two hands; don't eat soup; keep a water bottle with me; "steady mouse" on my laptop; hold elbow tight to my side if I need to use scissors, etc. Sometimes I ask for help. I believe surgery is being developed which can implant electrodes in the brain which will switch tremor off but I think things would have to be pretty dreadful before I'd personally go there!

    Try not to let it get on top of you, it's not life-shortening; just a "live with it"!

    Lesley

    PS. I may be wrong but I think dopamine is used for Parkinsons, not ET.

    • Posted

      It's especially difficult to accept I have the condition because it's very recent. Two years ago I could say I didn't have it. I guess I just need some time. Ty for your reply.

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