I was diagnosed with essential tremor in 2013 when I was 19, it effects my hands. I'm now 24. I've been on Propranolol ever since I was diagnosed, with the dose being gradually increased. I'm now on 80mg once a day. I've noticed my tremor is getting worse now, to the point my medication is not effective anymore. I've also developed a lot of other neurological symptoms such as nerve pain. My question is should I go back to my GP for advice?
I'm from the UK, and female. Many thanks.
Rhiannon
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I take 80mg extended release Propranolol twice a day (but I have high blood pressure in addition to tremor of my hands). My tremor isn’t totally controlled, but the Propranolol helps a lot. I notice that stress and caffeine make the tremor worse too.
I personally do think you should go back to your doctor since your tremor is getting worse. My tremor has definitely gotten worse as I’ve gotten older, but you are still so young and I just turned 74.
Good luck. I hope you update us on how you are doing.
Hi all. Just spoke to my GP. So, short term it's fine to up my dose of Propranolol to 160mg. Long term he said that's not a solution to just keep upping the dose. So he said a referral back to neurology because it keeps getting worse is a good idea. Xx
I’m glad you have gotten an increase even if your doctor says it’s only short term. I wasn’t aware that a there is anything else that can be done for essential tremor. My mom went through her life with it and was never given any treatment and all I’ve ever been treated for it with is Xanax as needed and Propranolol daily. I take Gabapentin as well although it was prescribed for neuropathy.
I’ve seen a neurologist for other issues when the doctors were ruling out things but have never been told there is something that can be done other than try and keep it under control with medication. I’m going to talk to my doctor who is an Internal Medicine doctor about it at my appointment in a couple weeks.
I hope the 160mg of Propanolol which is the dose I take, will help.
Thank you 😊 yes, as far as I'm aware there's nothing can be done other than medication. My GP just wants to make sure there's no underlying issue that's making it worse.
That makes sense. I do hope the increased Propranolol will help. Since I’m losing weight because of NASH stage 3 diagnosis, I’m wondering what will happen if my Propranolol has to be decreased because of blood pressure drop with weight loss. I’m limited on the blood pressure meds I can take as I have allergic reaction to some (angioedema) - even to some I used to be able to take. Time will tell!
I have developed tremors with autoimmune diseases which have affected me since I was a child - now 55. It would be worth getting your vitamin and mineral levels checked out and also your thyroid - if these haven’t already been tested.
I’m not sure but my rheumatologist thinks the drugs I’ve been on my have triggered them but I also have polyneuropathy. I sometimes take slow release propranolol but it makes me feel very slow the next day so I only take them when the tremors are very bad. I hope you find the cause and a way of controlling yours soon.
Hi all. Just a quick update for those who replied to this post. I had an eye test done a few weeks ago, I have been diagnosed with optic neuritis, and have significant damage to the optic nerves. I subsequently saw a neurologist on the 15th of this month and I'm being sent for an MRI of the brain and spine, unfortunately I have symptoms of early onset MS x
Hello! I also have been diagnosed with essential tremor, I’m a 28 yo female in the US. My mother also has had essential tremor since her mid 20s. I have been on propranolol 20mg twice a day for a few months and I see that it helps slightly throughout the day but I have a lot of stress from work and if I get stressed, I start shaking in my hands and my head. I have noticed I can control the head shaking with my mind (sounds funny) but my doc says it’s normal with essential tremor to be able to stop the tremor when you are thinking about not shaking. I am going to go back to my neurologist soon to see about upping the dosage. When you got your eye test, did you just go to the regular eye doctor and have standard tests? Or did you tell them your concerns with the tremor? I may look into this since I also have chronic headaches and eye pain at night due to the brightness of lights. It’s gotten worse over the past two years where I cannot drive at night because of the high contrast and bad depth perception :/ on top of this I have IBS-D, I’m a mess lol
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