Tremor: Causes, Medications, and What You Can Do About It

When your hands shake without you meaning to, it’s not just awkward—it’s a signal. tremor, an involuntary rhythmic muscle movement that most often affects the hands, head, or voice. Also known as shaking, it’s not a disease itself but a symptom tied to something deeper—like essential tremor, a common neurological disorder that worsens with movement and often runs in families, or Parkinson’s disease, a progressive brain condition where tremor is one of the earliest and most recognizable signs.

Tremor can also come from meds you’re already taking. Lithium, antidepressants, asthma inhalers, even too much caffeine can trigger it. Some people don’t realize their shaking isn’t "just nerves"—it’s a side effect. And if you’re on meds for Parkinson’s, like Carbidopa-Levodopa, you might notice the tremor improves… until it doesn’t, or new ones pop up. It’s not always about the brain. Thyroid issues, low blood sugar, alcohol withdrawal, and even stress can turn your fingers into drumsticks. The key is figuring out which kind you have, because treatment changes completely based on the cause.

There’s no one-size-fits-all fix. Beta blockers like propranolol help essential tremor for many, but they’re useless for Parkinson’s tremor. Anti-seizure drugs like primidone work for some. Deep brain stimulation is an option when meds fail. But before any of that, you need to rule out reversible causes—like a drug interaction or an overactive thyroid. That’s why so many posts here dig into drug interactions: because something as simple as taking an NSAID with lithium, or skipping dairy with antibiotics, can accidentally make tremors worse. And if you’re managing something like COPD or depression, the meds that help your main condition might be quietly making your hands shake.

This collection isn’t about generic advice. It’s about real connections—how a drug meant for your heart might shake your hands, why a Parkinson’s med might stop working over time, and what alternatives exist when side effects become unbearable. You’ll find deep dives into how medications like Bupropion or MAOIs affect movement, how lithium toxicity can mimic tremor, and what to do when your tremor isn’t what your doctor first thought. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what actually matters when your hands won’t stop moving.