Essential Tremor

[Magsterma]

I am a 63 year old female and was diagnosed with Essential Tremors in 1996 by a Neurologist. This condition is quite prevalent in our family. My father's hands shook constantly and 3 of 7 children appear to be afflicted by Tremors as well as their children. I was prescribed Klonopin (generic: clonazepam) because I had already used it for anxiety issues. My Neurologist stated the medication would be increased as the tremors got worse. I was on 1.0 mg per day in 1996. In the past 11 years, I have gone from 1.0 mg per day to 2.0 mg per day today. It always appeared to work well. As I went on Social Security at age 62 I was left with no insurance so had to go to a "free clinic". At the "free clinic" they did not prescribe any controlled substances, so they insisted I be placed on propranol (Inderal) while being weaned off of the Klonopin. I could not tolerate the propranol at all so I am still on Klonopin. I finally found a job but upon the very first day, one of the workers told me that he noticed my head shaking. I have absolutely no realization that this is happening, but obviously I will need my dosage upped a little. My problem is that I now have no medical insurance and cannot get any prescriptions, much less for a dosage higher. I am able to use the prescription coverage called PPA Now which really helps (the program that Montel Williams speaks of). Does anyone know any organization I can contact for help ?

[JohnP]

I checked around and the only low-cost medication I could find for our problem is the $4.00 prescription for propranolol at Walmart.
Although you said you couldn't tolerate propranolol, maybe you could try it again and see if your tolerance has changed.
I hope you can find a solution to your problem.

[Magsterma]

Thank you for replying JohnP. Are you on Propranol? Can you tell me how it works with you? The first and only time that I took it, my heart beat like crazy, from my knees down my legs shook ( I had to sit on the curbside because I couldn't walk), I was extremely dizzy (I'm on blood pressure medication and was afraid I would cause damage). And the worst thing is that the Director of the "Free Clinic" did NOT beleive that I had tremors, however, their Physician who attended me seen my tremors. I wish someone would of just told me what to expect....I will wean myself off of the Klonopin if I can find something else that helps and is cheaper and that I'm not treated like a "druggie" because I'm taking a medication that is considered "controlled". Again, I thank you JohnP

[JohnP]

Yes, I take 120mg of propranolol daily. My doctor prescribed it to control my heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) and to control my ET. I haven't experienced any side effects from that medication. I also started on 125mg of primidone twice daily about three weeks ago, as my hands had begun shaking more. Side effects from primidone were dizziness and slight nausea the first morning after taking it at 9 p.m. the night before, and light-headedness for about three days, but all that has cleared up now. The primidone, taken along with the propranolol, has really worked very well to lessen the shaking. I can once again raise a fork of niblets corn from my plate to my mouth without spilling all of it.

[Magsterma]

Thanks for the information JohnP. When the Director placed me on Propranol, she put me on 10 mg, taking (2) tablets, twice a day. My reaction was on the 2 tablets of 10 mg. Also, she never mentioned to take the medication at night. Is this the normal regiment? My hands probably shake but because it's been so many years (since I was a teenager) that I don't notice that so much. I use the opposite hand to steady the other one when needed. My greatest concern is the head movement. As I have no indication that my head is shaking, obviously it must frighten others. I try to tell any co-workers to let me know because this means I would have to up the dosage of meds, I did not work for about 14 months and had no idea my condition had worsened until someone finally told me. Now I have some idea why I was not chosen for a job for 14 months. I was wondering how long you had been on Propranol before another medication was introduced for your condition? Again, thank you for all your help. I think that I will try the Propranol on Friday which will give me the week-end so I am not dizzy at work.

[JohnP]

I began taking propranolol about 3 years ago. It worked fairly well to control the shaking. Then about 3 months ago the shaking had increased to a level that I asked my doctor to prescribe something stronger. He prescribed 100mg gabapentin capsules in addition to the 120mg propranolol capsules. After 10 days and no effect at all from the gabapentin 100mg, he increased the dosage to 300mg. Ten days later i faxed him that my handshakes were worse to the point where I was afraid I would cut myself shaving, and I discontinued the gabapentin.
A neurologist then prescribed two 125mg doses of primidone a day, and that was much better.
I take the propranolol at 5 p.m. and have never had a problem, but there is no reason why you couldn't take it at 8 or 9 p.m.

[Magsterma]

Thank you so much for all the information JohnP. I will try the Propranol again starting this Friday evening, hoping that I don't experience the side effects as the first time. Hopefully, if I get a good start on the Propranol it will help me. I know the one dosage that I took surely did not have enough time to do me any good. Again, Thank you.

[JohnP]

You're quite welcome, and I hope it helps. Walmart has the $4.00 prescriptions as follows, if you're close to one of those:

Strength Quantity

PROPRANOLOL 10MG TABLET 60
PROPRANOLOL 20MG TABLET 60
PROPRANOLOL 40MG TABLET 60
PROPRANOLOL 80MG TABLET 60