Understanding Shaking: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Shaking

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Shaking or tremor refer to involuntarily repetitive movement of a body part like the hands or legs. Physiological tremor exists in everyone, and it is usually mild and may not be noticed. It could be triggered by caffeine or certain medications. The most common cause for tremor is essential tremor (also called familial tremor, benign tremor) which causes involuntary rhythmic shaking that usually appears in the hands, but can affect other areas of the body. Primary tremor is a benign and not dangerous condition, but it can worsen over time and cause significant discomfort to the patient. Other tremor causes include anxiety, low blood sugar, alcohol withdrawal,Parkinson’s disease, overactive thyroid gland, Multiple Sclerosis, lack of B1 vitamin and Wilson’s disease. When diagnosing tremor, the doctor will ask about personal and family medical history and will perform a physical and neurological examination. Other tests such as blood or imaging tests may be performed. Treatment depends on the undertlying cause. It is not necessary to treat essential tremot and the decision to treat depends on the patient’s preferences. Treatment options include: - Reduction in caffeine intake, stop taking medications that may cause tremor. - Medications (eg beta blockers, anticonvulsants). - Botox injections - Botox temporarily weakens the trembling muscles. - Surgery - will be performed only in cases of severe tremor.

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Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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