Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is nor can I recommend specific therapies for you. However I will try to provide you with some useful information on Essential Tremor and its treatment.
First, regarding your concerns about side effects. In general, it can be said that if you look hard enough any medication can cause any side effect. Having said this, in younger adults such as yourself, tolerance to many of the side effects develop (after you have taken the medication for a few weeks, the side effects lessen).
Klonopin can certainly be addictive, and you can develop tolerance to it. Its main side effects are sedation (which improves with time) and in some people temporary (reversible) memory loss. If you plan to stop klonopin, you need to taper it according to a specific regimen prescribed by your doctor (you should not suddenly discontinue it).
Propranolol can cause fatigue, can affect the libido, and has some other side effects but it is generally well tolerated in younger adults. If you are very atheletic, propranolol may affect your performance as an athlete because it slows the heart rate. However, again, it is one of the established treatments for BET and it is useful in most people. It is not known to affect hormones pe se in most people, but it may mask the symptoms of low blood sugar in diabetics and so in diabetics it should be used with caution. It should not be used in asthmatics.
Other treatments for BET include primidone, or mysoline. The main side effect is sedation and it can cause allergic reaction in some people. Topamax is another medication used, its main side effect is cognitive slowing (it makes you think sort of slowly) but this improves with time and can be minimized by slowly going up on the dose. Other medications that have been tried and work include selective beta-blockers (similar to propranolol, but works selectively on more specific receptors), and neurontin, which is useful but can cause sedation and weight gain
Again, most medication have one side effect or another but in the treatment of BET, they have been successful for most patients. When the tremor becomes debilitating and starts affecting daily life and occupation, there are surgical options available (called deep brain stimulation, which at this time is only done in a few centers in the world but seems highly effective).
Essential tremor is hereditary (it runs in families). The good news about it is that besides the tremor, which is of course very bothersome to some people, it does not have other consequences (it is not neurodegenerative).
If you are feeling depression and anxiety, treatment of your underlying depression and anxiety will help your tremor. Also, cessation of smoking and caffiene intake may improve your tremor as well. While alcohol is known to improve BET, excessive alcohol consumption is recommended against since alcohol is addictive and harmful if not used moderately.
I recommend continued follow-up with your doctor. it is important for you to discuss all your questions and concerns with him/her and find a treatment regiment that you are comfortable with and that is effective. Discuss your depression and anxiety symptoms as well as these are treatble and you should not have to suffer from them
Thank you for using the forum, I hope you find this information useful, good luck.
I am not a doctor but last year I develped tremors in my right hand (as well as pins and needles, numbness etc.) I can't take proponal because of asthma, but I started taking a calcium/ magnesium/ vit.D pill and my tremors have vanished.
Thank you doctor for ur clear explanation given to my question.I hav consulted my doctor again and he told me to continue the propranolol tablets for 6months..He told me that the tremor is because of the excess secretion of some hormones..
I want to thank you for the compassionate and thorough explanation you have given here. It is refreshing to see not only the questions answered, but some education given so the person can have an idea of where to turn.
Quixotic1