I have essential tremor
 

My essential tremor is being controlled pretty good with Inderal, but I still have times where my hands shake, I use Sign Language with my deaf friends which causes me problems with my shaky hands.
I was wondering if anyone has had success's with some homeopathic treatments for ET.

Hi fireflysinmyjar
I moved your post off that older thread as it is more likely to get replies here :)

hope you find answers to help

all the best
Cheri

I have ET as well as tremors from MS. I was put on Neurontin for nerve pain but as an added benefit it helped my ET. I still get the tremors occasionally but they are not as bad as they were.

I have not tried any homeopathic remedies but my neuro did suggest drinking 1 glass of red wine a night to help them. Never tried as Neurontin and alcohol don't mix well with me.

Maybe someone else will have more experience with homeopathics and the tremors.

Benign essential tremor
 

Hi - I've had ET since I was 17 (ages ago!) and blamed it on nerves. That continued until '98 when my husband was leafing through Mondern Maturity magazine, walked over to me and pointed out a cartoon figure of a man who's hand was shaking uncontrollably and gave a number to call along with the gist of the solution. I immediately contacted my physician and asked him to call Mayo Clinic in nearby Rochester. I underwent surgery June 10th of that month for a monolateral deep brain stimulator. It worked so well I'm now considering the bilateral.

I couldn't eat, write or hold a newspaper before and appearing in public was agony. After the surgery (and it's not nearly as bad as it sounds!) I've gained new confidence in myself and am enjoying a life to its fullest.

Look into it. You'll be glad you did!!

v2342
 

I am so happy for you! I have had ET for 6 years now. Have seen 4 neurologists, and all have diagnosed it as ET, however, the only med that helped was an antiparkinson one.It was somewhat controlled, but is now much worse. They say it is genetic, my grandmother, and two cousins. The current neurologist believes that antiseizure meds help and now my whole left side is shaking, I am at my wits end.
I was always an upfront social person, it has changed my life.

Hi the firefly, im lynn from the uk,im 33yrs old. Ive suffered from shakey hands since i was 14yrs. But i was always too imbarassed to say anything until now. I went to see a doctor in London who did some tests. He wants to put me on beata blockers. Will find out on friday what ones i will be prescribed by my local doctor and what dose. As different tablets help some ppl and not others. Guess its going to be abit of trial and error i guess. Could you tell me how you get on with the medication that you are on? Hope im dont being too rude?

homeopatic treatments I've tried for myoclonus
 

Hi I am 36 yrs old and have suffered from myoclonus since age 31. First I had, and still have, palatal myoclonus and now I have (for the last year) spinal myoclonus. Part of the spinal myoclonus is the cronic, involuntary spasms of my arms, shoulders, neck, stomach, back... So though your spasms/tremors are in your hands mine are in my arms and shoulders, but I FINALLY have created some help for myself. You asked about homeopatic treatments and I HIGHLY rec. biofeedback and Physical Therapy doing cranial say-pree-al (this is NOT the correct spelling- sounds like that- spelling ??), Omega 3 (Arti Omega with the lemon flavor), Slow Mag, vitamin B 1, B6, B12 sublingual. I have tried EVERYTHING and every type of medication you can name. Just a heads up- as I read this med mentioned in another posting- Neurontin made me gain LOTS of weight (I took it for 5 years and gained 30 pounds- it eliminates your metabolism). Best of luck. I still suffer, daily, from constant ear popping (palatal myoclonus) and from constant arm spasms etc, but I am doing all I can to help myself. Stay strong! Know that with this website, you aren't alone. Until I found this site today I felt TOTALLY alone with these myoclonus conditions. Only 1 in 2 million people have palatal myoclonus and only 1 in 3 million have spinal myoclonus. I hope and pray that my sharing this and lending whatever help I can that someone out there will read this and also know of someone who has my very rare myoclonus conditions. Best of luck to you with your conditions. Take care :) Topsie

Hi Lynn,
Thought I would reply to you as I am here, not to step on the toes of Firefly.
No doubt you have started Inderal by now, hope it's going ok. Inderal (propranolol) or Mysoline (primidone) are the two medications proven to be the most effective for Essential tremor but as you say,not all meds suit everyone.
If one doesn't work for you they will try another. Topiramate and gabapentin are others that some find beneficial. Easiest is to start with the smallest dose and increase slowly as per side-effects etc. Your doctor will give you instructions and monitor your progress.
There is a neurologist at a clinic just outside London, from memory he has ET and I believe is actively involved in a group. Let me know if you want any info.
For now
Nick

My Father has ET bad
 

I am trying to get more information for my father. He is 70 yrs old and just in the last year his ET has progressed that his head/mouth shakes and his speech is effected also. The doctors have him on Topamax and endurol and primidone. It does not seem to be getting any better although my mother says it seems to help a little since he started on Topamax. It has been very discouraging for my father as it seems to have aged him significantly in the last 3-4 months. He is extremely embarassed over his voice not and head/mouth shaking. We are thinking of getting an MRI to start the process of elimination of potential other issues but it seems to be classic symptoms or progressive ET. He has seem 2 neurologists and both have diagnosed him since his father also had it. We are seriously wanting to pursue an ET specialist vs. a regular neurologist. Any advice?

I have heard perhaps b6/b12 shots. I also heard that maybe botox shots might help the quivering in his voice.

Help!!!!!!!!

Hi Deb,
I note it's been sometime since your post however if you are still waiting for help I'll give you some support and pointers.
Yes you are correct a movement disorder specialist (MDS) is a neurologist with fellowship training in specialist areas. With your concerns it would be prudent to visit a MDS. Many people are diagnosed by neurologists, quite often correctly but some incorrectly. Many do give their diagnosis based on it being an inherited condition, assumptions can be risky.
Vitamin b6,b12 if he is deficient but in clinical trials there was notable improvement with additional b vitamins.
Botox is most effective with head and vocal tremors but it's dose dependent and has to be repeated approximately every 3 months.
Most importantly - the diagnosis first, then take it from there.
Not trying to drag you from this site but you can get regular support,advice from the ET forum at WEMOVE. Link below,register and start new topic.
http://www.wemove.org/cgi-bin/ultima...19/1000/0.html
best wishes
Nick

I didn't have much luck with homeopathic medicines. Actually, even the prescription meds only worked for a short time before the dose had to be increased. Neurontin (gabapentin) worked the longest for me. I now have DBS and it has been amazing!

Treatign ET with Homeopathy
 

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Hello, I realize this is a older post but if you have had success with your treatment I wold love to hear from you, please post. I have had ET since early childhood and have learned a few things since then, I am now 47.
First in terms of directly answering your question, we would have to come to a consensus on Homeopthy, usually this is meant to discern true homeopathic treatment which the principle states that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people.
However many people use the term to mean non tradidional or herbal treatment. My first point really fits both sides.
I found a study years back in JAMA that demonstrated that theophyline from tea can be used to treat ET. All natrual sources of caffine produce the 3 major forms, theozanthine, theophyline, and theobromine (sorry on spelling), but usually make far more of one than the other. Tea produces mostly theoophyline. I tried this and noticed immediate help!!! Black tea seams to work the best for me, green tea seems to be too strong for me. I always have to be carefull not to overdue it about two cups of tea a day does the trick for me. Regular caffine from coffee makes my ET much more pronounced, which is too bad since I love coffee.
Also on the non medical side, Vitamin D about 1000 units per day is supposed to give some relief as well as B12, both seem to give mild help to me as well, especially the Vit. D.
Finally as a personally observation I was on a true low carb diet for about 4 years and my ET almost stopped completely durring that time, no sure why I have never seen anything on this.
Good luck to you please post with any success you have had.

effexor kicked off my Essential Tremor
 

I had a therapist about 9 yrs ago who suggested to my doctor that I should go on Effexor medication. One pill was all it took and I could not control any of my limbs for hours. I never did regain my balance after that one pill, and I refused to ever take another one. I have now been diagnosed with Essential Tremors and prescribed Primidone- right now 400mg/day. The Tremors affect both my arms and legs. I know DBS is probably in my future. I have been fighting this now for about 9 yrs.
Last yr, I got to where I could not even get around our home without a powerchair. Insurance wanted to balk at the price, and suggested to my doctor that I should be referred to a Neurologist and a physiatrist. The Neurolgist ran some tests and prescribed Primidone, starting at 50mg and now I am up to 400mg/day. Feeling like the dosage may have to be increased again. About the same time I saw a physiatrist who recommended physical therapy. The two together have now allowed me to walk short distances. Like maybe 5 to 10 minutes maximum. My brain is also beginning to work again. I got so forgetful that I was a real danger. Forgetting that I put food on the stove etc. Thankfully after a couple of events, got strong smoke detectors. So I managed to not burn our home down. I understand that Primidone become less effective as time progresses, but for now I feel like it is kind of giving me my life back. Would like to hear from others whom are also going through these trying life events.