Saturday, May 26, 2012

Drug-induced tremor

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Tremor - drug-induced


Symptoms

The tremor may affect the hands, arms, head, or eyelids. It rarely affects the lower body and may not affect both sides of the body equally.

The shaking is usually fast, at about 6 to 10 movements per second.

The tremor may be:

  • Episodic (occurring in bursts, sometimes about an hour after taking the medication)
  • Intermittent (comes and goes with activity, but not always)
  • Sporadic (occasional)

The tremor can:

  • Disappear during sleep
  • Get worse with voluntary movement and emotional stress

Other symptoms may include:

  • Head nodding
  • Shaking or quivering sound to your voice

Signs and tests

Your doctor can make the diagnosis by performing a physical exam and asking questions about your medical and personal history, especially your medication use.

A physical exam will show shaking with movement. There are usually no problems with coordination or mental function.

Other tests are usually not needed. However, further tests may be done to rule out other reasons for the tremor. A tremor that occurs when the muscles are relaxed or that affects the legs or coordination may be a sign of another condition, such as Parkinson's disease. The speed of the tremor can be an important way to determine its cause.

Other causes of tremors may include:

  • Alcohol withdrawal
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Too much caffeine
  • Wilson's disease

Blood tests and imaging studies (such as a CT scan of the head, brain MRI, and x-rays) are usually normal.


Review Date: 06/29/2010
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)