The other course of meds that I've been through have been various anti-seizure medications to help with my tremor. I have some PN as it is, and none of the meds have made it worse.

Just so's you know.

I have a follow up with my neuro on Thursday regarding my tremor (and other things). I'll let you know if I get anything helpful?

Question--if you drink, does alcohol help? and do you shake when you sleep? Can someone help answer that question? These questions help in diagnosing what kind of tremor you might have.

I'm very relieved that MrsD says beta blockers do not cause neuropathy, since betas and neuropathy are a big part of my life. I take Propanalol to somewhat slow heart rate and prevent atrial fibrillation. I only take 15 mg a day, which seems to do the job, although some have to take much much more. Propanalol is my buddy, one of the drugs I can take without side effects. Believe me, that's big for me.

I also take Klonopin and I cannot take Xanax. They are different entirely in my metabolism, although both are benzodiazapines. I was in a study for Xanax before it was on the market, and two small pills made my arms and legs virtually unmovable. They moved, but so slowly I could hardly climb two small stairs in the place where we were trying out the Xanax.

On the other hand, Klonopin saved me from an addiction to Meprobamate. I had been on a bad drug called Mepro for many years, to halt spasm of the gut, so that I could work. It is very addictive and I could not get off it, when a doctor told me it might be contributing to neurological symptoms I was developing, especially eye problems and dizziness. I tried for a year. Then a smart pcp (the one from whom I got my first dx) told me to take Klonopin, which would enable me to stop Mepro cold turkey. Yes! It worked. I was on an average dose then, but gradually lowered it to the very very low dose I take now, which is .25 three times a day. Someone might say I am addicted but as far as i can see it just stops the inevitable big spasms I will have, especially in my arms, if I don't take it. When I didn't have it for two and a half days, while in Canada, I developed a major and frightening spasm in my arm. I cannot see any side effects, certainly nothing like Xanax. Although I am walking slower now due to neuropathy, I can climb two stairs better now than many years ago when I tried Xanax.

Isn't if miraculous that the metabolic systems are so fine tuned that there can be this difference between two related pills?

I had a drink last night right after work(and Ace Pear Cider, yum). It didn't seem to help, maybe if I had drank more, but I'm not a huge drinker. I had dinner, waited a couple hours, and once I knew the alcohol wasn't a factor, took a xanax. An hour later I realized I hadn't shook since I had taken the xanax.

No, I'm not shaking while sleeping. I do have periodic limb movement disorder, and normally flail around during sleep, abusing my husband! But no shaking. It only seems to happen when I have my hand in certain positions, when holding something in my hand, reaching for things. It moves up my arm as it gets worse I've noticed. I believe this is an Intention Tremor that is cerebral...which means it's my brain.

I take Oxcarbazepine for my PN, not Gabapentin as that made me too stupid. I've read the Oxcarbazepine can help with tremors. Of course it's listed as a side effect too, but doesn't everything?

Got an appt with my PCP for tomorrow as I can't get into see any neuro anytime soon.