Treatment:

Treament may not be necessary unless the tremors interfere with your daily activities or cause embarrassment.

Treatment depends on the cause. Tremors caused by an medical condition such as hyperthyroidism will likely get better when the condition is treated.

If the tremors are caused by certain medicine, stopping the drug usually helps them go away. Never stop taking any medicine without first talking to your doctor. See: Drug-induced tremor

Medicines may help relieve symptoms. How well medicines work depend on the individual patient.

Two medications used to treat tremors include:

• Propranolol, a drug that blocks the action of stimulating substances called neurotransmitters, particularly those related to adrenaline
• Primidone, an antiseizure drug that also control the function of some neurotransmitters

The drugs can have significant side effects.

Side effects of propranolol include:

• Fatigue
• Nose stuffiness
• Shortness of breath (people with asthma should not use this drug)
• Slow heart beat

Side effects of primidone include:

• Drowsiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nausea
• Problems with walking, balance, and coordination

Other medications that may reduce tremors include:

• Antiseizure drugs such as gabapentin and topiramate
• Mild tranquilizers such as alprazolam or clonazepam
• Blood pressure drugs called calcium-channel blockers such as flunarizine and nimodipine.

Botox injections, given in the hand, have been used to reduce tremors by weakening local muscles.

In severe cases, surgery to implant a stimulating device in the brain may be an option.

Complications:

Severe tremors can interfere with daily activities, especially fine motor skills (such as writing). If the tremor affects the voice box, speech problems can occur.

Calling your health care provider:

See your health care provider if you have a persistent, unexplained tremors or if tremors are interfering with your ability to perform daily activities.