Worried, Need Answers

[terrified2know]

Please help!  I am a 34 year old healthy male.  Over the last couple of months I have noticed that my hands are shaking more than usual.  They only shake when I am trying to use them like holding a spoon to eat soup.  The degree at which they shakes varies at any given time from severe to mild.  I have also started to have muscle spasms in my arms and legs a couple of times per day.  The spasms are not continuous, just come and go like flipping on a light switch.  The shaking occasionally extends to my arms and sometimes in my legs.  Sometimes I feel like my insides are shaking.  I have blood work done a minimum of two times per year to check for Diabetes since it runs in the family and tests have always been negative.  I always have the doctor screen for everything just to make sure something is not wrong and the only test that has ever come back outside of normal was my cholesterol.  My cholesterol is now normal due to a change in diet and exercise.  I am now if great physical condition other than the tremors.  I am terrified that I may have PD, MD, MS, or some other degenerative disease that is going to cut my life short.  I have an appointment with a Neurologist on Feb. 29th as my primary doctor has referred me to one.  I have been taking 150mg of Effexor XR and 150mg of Wellbutrin daily for the last 4 to 5 years for anxiety and depression.  There is no history of any neurological diseases in my family.  Where are these symptoms coming from?  Thyroid tests ok two previous CT scans ok.  Is this a side effect of my medication?  Should I be worried?  I can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone.  I can't deal with the problem until I know what it is.

[Caliber2005]

Hi,
I have just evaluated the drugs you are taking. Both the medications indeed can cause side effects such as tremor.
You can consult a physician or GP regarding these medications before you can meet Neurologist.
Bye.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

I am sure after your meeting with the Neurologist, all the doubts will get cleared.

For now, you may consider the possibility of Effexor side effects causing your symptoms. Effexor tremors and increased cholesterol as a side effects!! And wellbutrin causes tremors.

The muscle spasms need to investigated for. Such spasms can occur in anxiety states and depression also.

Regards

[terrified2know]

Feb. 29 is the earliest they can get me into see the neurologist.  I have been waiting since the first of October.

[Caliber2005]

Hi,
How are you feeling?
Tremor is an unintentional, somewhat rhythmic, muscle movement involving to-and-fro movements (oscillations) of one or more parts of the body. It is the most common of all involuntary movements and can affect the hands, arms, head, face, vocal cords, trunk, and legs.
Most tremors occur in the hands. In some people, tremor is a symptom of another neurological disorder.
The most common form of tremor, however, occurs in otherwise healthy people. Neurological disorders or conditions that can produce tremor include multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases that damage or destroy parts of the brainstem or the cerebellum. Other causes include the use of some drugs (such as amphetamines, caffeine, corticosteroids, and drugs used for certain psychiatric disorders), alcohol abuse or withdrawal, mercury poisoning, overactive thyroid or liver failure.
Tremors can be an indication of hypoglycemia, along with palpitations, sweating and anxiety. Some forms of tremor are inherited and run in families, while others have no known cause.
Eliminating tremor “triggers” such as caffeine and other stimulants from the diet is often recommended.
Physical therapy may help to reduce tremor and improve coordination and muscle control for some patients.
It is not due to any medication side effect. You should be worried about your symptom only if they are annoying.
It is nice that you have an appointment with a neurologist, but can that happen earlier?
Hope this helps.
Bye.