Essential Tremor
Essential tremor is a movement disorder that affects millions of people. Its main feature is shaking that interferes with everyday tasks. It is not the same as Parkinson’s disease.
Medicine used to treat Essential Tremor
Key points
- The shaking usually happens during voluntary movement, such as reaching, writing or speaking.
- Around half of affected people have a close relative with the same condition.
- Propranolol, a beta-blocker, reduces how strongly the hands shake by quieting sympathetic nerve signals.
What causes it
How essential tremor arises is not fully clear. Unusual electrical activity in the cerebellum and its links to the thalamus is thought to play a central part. Risk rises with age: the condition becomes much more common after the age of 40, and then again after 60.
Symptoms
The tremor can make writing, reaching for a cup or speaking harder. Shaking is the main symptom, and it can interfere with hand tasks.
Treatment
The most established first-line treatment is a beta-blocker. Propranolol lowers the strength of hand shaking and has decades of supporting evidence. It belongs to the heart and blood pressure group of medicines. Inderal tablets contain propranolol and are supplied in 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg strengths. Neurology specialists may consider anticonvulsants for people who cannot tolerate beta-blockers. Everyday steps can help too: keep objects nearer the body, choose weighted cutlery, avoid caffeine and get enough sleep. Alcohol may reduce tremor briefly in many people, but relying on it is not advisable. Pharmacy partners in India ship orders to Malaysia in discreet packaging.
When to seek advice
Get medical advice if shaking starts to worsen quickly, makes swallowing difficult, or occurs alongside stiff muscles or slowness of movement. These signs may point to another neurological condition.
Further reading
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