essential tremor and tx

Hello everyone,

I'm in my fourth week of tx and my essential tremor has gotten so bad I can barely function.  I'm a court reporter and I had to tell the judge this morning I couldn't continue because I was shaking so bad.  It used to just be my head that would shake sometimes, but it was totally controllable, but now my head shakes like crazy as well as my whole body, arms, hands.  Does anybody know if there is anything that can be done about this and if it stops after treatment stops?  I don't know if I can continue to work if this keeps up.

Nancy

[indyjo]

I'm no expert on tremors but I assume you see a neurologist? Are you taking meds(ativan or similar)  to manage the tremors?  If so, maybe a different  or higher dose med while on treatment? The meds to treat HCV really affect nervous system.

[NancyPF]

No, I'm not on any medication for the tremors.  I've just learned to live with them.  But they're really gotten a lot worse to a point where I can't work.  My doctor is trying to get my blood count under control and then they said they'd deal with the tremors, but I thought maybe someone might be able to suggest something that would help.  Thanks for the info.

[merryBe]

You need to know what is causing the tremors. If you have parkinson's they may have to adjust your meds upward to compensate for the Riba but you need to know what is causing the tremors. See a neurologist.

mb

[Trinity4]

If I remember correctly ET can start at any age but becomes progressively worse as we age.  There is also a link between ET and Parkinson's Disease.  It appears the treatment medications have exacerbated your condition.  It is typical for tremors to worsen in performance situations.  Tremors can also worsen with fatigue, strong emotions, caffeine, low blood sugar and some antidepressants.  Going through tx certainly fatigues us and causes our emotions to soar out of control as well.  You've got a lot things going on in your body right now so it's understandable that your ET has become worse.  
Some effective treatments include tranquilizers, beta-blockers or antipileptic drugs.  Once your blood stabilizes your doctor will hopefully start you on something that will help calm the tremors.  Good Luck Nancy.
Trin

[Bill1954]

Hi Nancy,

I’ve never heard of anything like this before. I even had to look up essential tremors. Scary stuff, huh? Have you had a chance to contact your doctor yet? I wish I had more info for you, but wanted to wish you well. Other than the increased tremors, how are you holding up? Let us know how things go, OK?

Take care—

Bill

[NancyPF]

Thanks everybody for the info.  This place is amazing.  Always info at hand.

Hey, Bill.  Glad to hear from you.  Actually the first four weeks were pretty easy, but now my blood levels are getting all out of whack.  I'm waiting for my Procrit to get here so I can get that stabilized.  I talked to the doctor about the tremors and they are more concerned about the WBC and RBC and hemaglobin, which dropped from 12 to 9.7 in a very short period of time.  Then they said we'll work on the tremors.  In the meantime, I can't perform my job very well because it's a very high stress and contentious situation most of the time.  So my doctor suggested I go on disability for a few weeks to get the blood levels under control.  

Trinity, you're right.  I have noticed they get much worse under stress, even before treatment, but now they're out of control.  Very embarrassing today in court.  And I'm very fatigued because of my blood count, so maybe it will improve once that gets under control

So that's where I'm at for now.  We'll just take it one day at a time.  Thanks everybody for the info.  I really appreciate it.

Nancy

[CoWriter]

One of your previous posts mentioned that you were going to start taking Trazodone.  The most frequent side effects of Trazodone are......

TREMORS, muscle twitching, involuntary movements, dystonia (muscle contractions that cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures), complex partial seizures, headaches, migraines, low blood pressure, and HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA.  

Trazodone is metabolised by CYP34A.  Inhibition of this enzyme by grapefruit juice, herbs, and other medications can result in high blood levels of Trazodone.....which would, of course, cause more side effects.  Maybe that's why your tremors got worse.  

Be aware that Trazodone should not be stopped suddenly.  Don't do anything without first checking with your doctor.  

(BTW, on one of your posts you also mentioned that you take 5HT.  Trazodone's antidepressant effects are due to its antagonistic effects at 5-HT2  receptors.  That means you shouldn't take Trazodone and 5HT together).  

It would be a good idea to review all your supplements to make sure that they don't interfere with one another.

(Info on Trazodone)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trazodone

[NancyPF]

Thanks so much.  Wow, that's a lot of good information.  Sounds like I need to be a little more careful.  I don't take the Trazadone every night.  Only when I have trouble sleeping, and I have been taking it with the 5HTP, so I'll stop doing that.

My tremors have gotten a little better since my RBC came up a little.  The headaches have also gotten a little better, so maybe it was related to that?  I asked my hepatologist if I could take the 5HTP, and they said yes it's okay.  And they prescribed the Trazadone, so you would think they would put two and two together, but maybe not!!!

Thanks again for the good info.

Nancy

[CoWriter]

"I don't take the Trazadone every night.  Only when I have trouble sleeping"

That's not the way Trazodone is supposed to be taken.  Here's what the info on this med says......

"There's the possibility of "discontinuation syndrome" if Trazodone is stopped too quickly.  Care must therefore be taken when coming off the medication, usually by a GRADUAL process of TAPERING DOWN the dose over a period of time.

A person who abruptly stops taking Trazodone, even in doses as low as 25mg (common for use as a sleep aid for people with anxiety disorders), may experience adverse mental reactions such as emotional instability, depressed mood, and suicidal thoughts. Although such warnings may be included in printed materials supplied with the drug, physicians prescribing Trazodone, particularly those who are not psychiatrists, might not give oral warnings."


Talk to your doctor.  Maybe he can give you something that you can take only when you need it.  

[NancyPF]

Thanks so much.  Yes, I'll talk to my doctor.

Nancy