I have Essential Tremors. My right hand shakes and I take 50 mg of Primidone. It definitely does help. Don't know if Functional and Essential Tremors are the same thing.
How did they determine that you had Essential Tremors? My husband has bad tremors in his hands, pretty much all the time. His doctor first prescribed Primidone and that did not help him at all. His doctor has now changed his medication to Propranolol HCI ER 60mg. He started this med a couple weeks ago, but it doesn't seem to be helping his tremors either, so what is next? Anybody know?
How did they determine that you had Essential Tremors? My husband has bad tremors in his hands, pretty much all the time. His doctor first prescribed Primidone and that did not help him at all. His doctor has now changed his medication to Propranolol HCI ER 60mg. He started this med a couple weeks ago, but it doesn't seem to be helping his tremors either, so what is next? Anybody know?
Hi, @shrinkerbell - hoping that some of the other members here who have essential tremor can answer how this diagnosis was determined for them. Hoping @grammlyn will have some information and perhaps @hopeful33250, as well as what other treatment options are available.
Sounds like waiting for a medication to finally work for his tremors is challenging.
What is your husband's current diagnosis? What timeframe did the doctor give for potentially seeing results with the medication?
How did they determine that you had Essential Tremors? My husband has bad tremors in his hands, pretty much all the time. His doctor first prescribed Primidone and that did not help him at all. His doctor has now changed his medication to Propranolol HCI ER 60mg. He started this med a couple weeks ago, but it doesn't seem to be helping his tremors either, so what is next? Anybody know?
@shrinkerbell - a couple of others who might be familiar with medications for tremor are @johnbishop and @jenniferhunter. Also, just wanted to check in and see if your husband has seen any tremor improvement in the last several days with his medication?
Low magnesium ( and, no, low mag doesn't show up on standard lab tests - only if your doc is savvy enough to run an intracellular mag test) can cause tremors and fasciculations - twitches) . Americans tend to be low in magnesium. What can make it worse? Sometimes drugs, especially proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) - any of the drugs ending in "oprazole" like lansoprazole and omeprazole and rabeprazole - brand names Aciphex, Prilosec,Prevacid.Protonix etc.
Low magnesium ( and, no, low mag doesn't show up on standard lab tests - only if your doc is savvy enough to run an intracellular mag test) can cause tremors and fasciculations - twitches) . Americans tend to be low in magnesium. What can make it worse? Sometimes drugs, especially proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) - any of the drugs ending in "oprazole" like lansoprazole and omeprazole and rabeprazole - brand names Aciphex, Prilosec,Prevacid.Protonix etc.
I'm glad that you shared this interesting information, @slynnb. I take it that intracellular magnesium test must be different than a regular magnesium test? What type of doctor would be most likely to run this type of test?
Did you come upon this information from personal experience or by reading about it?
Low magnesium ( and, no, low mag doesn't show up on standard lab tests - only if your doc is savvy enough to run an intracellular mag test) can cause tremors and fasciculations - twitches) . Americans tend to be low in magnesium. What can make it worse? Sometimes drugs, especially proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) - any of the drugs ending in "oprazole" like lansoprazole and omeprazole and rabeprazole - brand names Aciphex, Prilosec,Prevacid.Protonix etc.
To be more specific ( and please excuse typos, i'm in a big hurry due to work) - the intracellular test is a red blood cell (RBC) test which measures the level of magnesium found inside the red blood cells NOTthe magneisum just floating in the blood serum. Symptoms of low levels of magnesium in red blood cells include heart palpitations, muscle cramps, muscle tremors and twitches and more.
To be more specific ( and please excuse typos, i'm in a big hurry due to work) - the intracellular test is a red blood cell (RBC) test which measures the level of magnesium found inside the red blood cells NOTthe magneisum just floating in the blood serum. Symptoms of low levels of magnesium in red blood cells include heart palpitations, muscle cramps, muscle tremors and twitches and more.
I have Essential Tremors. My right hand shakes and I take 50 mg of Primidone. It definitely does help. Don't know if Functional and Essential Tremors are the same thing.
Hi, @carols2dogs - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You mentioned your neurologist told you that functional and essential tremors are not the same, and that you don't have essential tremor. If you are comfortable sharing, what diagnosis were you given? Sounds like you are having some tremor or tremor-like symptoms. If so, what are the tremors you are experiencing like?
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How did they determine that you had Essential Tremors? My husband has bad tremors in his hands, pretty much all the time. His doctor first prescribed Primidone and that did not help him at all. His doctor has now changed his medication to Propranolol HCI ER 60mg. He started this med a couple weeks ago, but it doesn't seem to be helping his tremors either, so what is next? Anybody know?
Hi, @shrinkerbell - hoping that some of the other members here who have essential tremor can answer how this diagnosis was determined for them. Hoping @grammlyn will have some information and perhaps @hopeful33250, as well as what other treatment options are available.
Sounds like waiting for a medication to finally work for his tremors is challenging.
What is your husband's current diagnosis? What timeframe did the doctor give for potentially seeing results with the medication?
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1 Reaction@shrinkerbell - a couple of others who might be familiar with medications for tremor are @johnbishop and @jenniferhunter. Also, just wanted to check in and see if your husband has seen any tremor improvement in the last several days with his medication?
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1 ReactionHi, @shrinkerbell – I'm not familiar with the Propranolol HCI ER drug other than what I've read about it. Here is some information the drug.
Everything you need to know about propranolol -- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316061
Here is another article that may be helpful...
What does it mean if you have shaky hands? -- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322195
Has your husband been diagnosed with essential tremors?
Low magnesium ( and, no, low mag doesn't show up on standard lab tests - only if your doc is savvy enough to run an intracellular mag test) can cause tremors and fasciculations - twitches) . Americans tend to be low in magnesium. What can make it worse? Sometimes drugs, especially proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) - any of the drugs ending in "oprazole" like lansoprazole and omeprazole and rabeprazole - brand names Aciphex, Prilosec,Prevacid.Protonix etc.
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4 ReactionsI'm glad that you shared this interesting information, @slynnb. I take it that intracellular magnesium test must be different than a regular magnesium test? What type of doctor would be most likely to run this type of test?
Did you come upon this information from personal experience or by reading about it?
To be more specific ( and please excuse typos, i'm in a big hurry due to work) - the intracellular test is a red blood cell (RBC) test which measures the level of magnesium found inside the red blood cells NOTthe magneisum just floating in the blood serum. Symptoms of low levels of magnesium in red blood cells include heart palpitations, muscle cramps, muscle tremors and twitches and more.
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2 ReactionsAppreciate that information, @slynnb!
They're not. My neurologist told me that they are not the same. I had an MRI and he said they were not essential tremors.
Hi, @carols2dogs - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You mentioned your neurologist told you that functional and essential tremors are not the same, and that you don't have essential tremor. If you are comfortable sharing, what diagnosis were you given? Sounds like you are having some tremor or tremor-like symptoms. If so, what are the tremors you are experiencing like?
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Helpful -
Hug
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