meg Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 so. hi. I've been avoiding posting this issue in the hopes that I could ignore it, but that's not happening, SO: My hands tremble/shake a lot- sometimes more than others-- but I always have a baseline amount of unsteadyness/tremble/vibration/whathaveyou. I'm pretty positive that it's the Lamictal since I'm coming up on a year on 100mg and this started then. It's to the point that it really is a problem. Recently, I drove into Boston to do a Bride's makeup for her wedding (whoo wedding gigs!) and it all went really well-- except for my shaking hands. I'm pretty good at compensating for the shaking, but it was bad enough that the Bride noticed (even though it didn't cause screw-ups, it was pretty obvious) so I had to make a crack about "oh, ya' know-- too much caffine, they make that hotel coffee strooong.."--- then there was this charity fashion show last friday night and I had about 5 models to gogogo-get-done and had to pick looks for them based on the fact that my hands were vibrating rather than what would have looked best. Not okay! It was a big opportunity for me to show off a bit and network and I totally blew it. Same thing at photoshoots (not too many lately, thank goodness) but if I'm focused and zoomed in very carefully on something precise but my hands are bopping up and down, then half the time I ruin the shot...it's embarassing, frustrating, and a waste of time. Last example here-- I was at lunch with my family and some family friends a few weeks ago and I couldn't even follow conversation if I wanted to make sure that the fork made it to my mouth rather than poking me in the face. Keeping the food ON the fork was also an issue. At one point I made the mistake of holding my hand too close to my water glass and it taptaptapped against the side and made it sound like I wanted to give a toast when really I was just trying to hold my damn fork. any ideas? anyone have the same problems with any meds? I *finally* have a decent pdoc and I really need her to take this seriously since it's really screwing up my work and pretty much all around makes me want to scream and/or cry. Oh, and there is no way that I would go off of Lamictal-- it's the only thing that's worked for my depression and I'm staying in remission as long as possible, thankyouverymuch thanks for any input, m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 My pdoc prescribed a Beta blocker for both hand tremors and anxiety. It helps a lot. Whenever I'm painting or drawing or shooting pix I make sure to take it. It takes about an hour to kick in and has essentially no side effects for me. Beta blockers are used primarily for high blood pressure. Note that professional musicians often use them for performance anxiety. My cousin is a professional piccoloist and she says about 50% of musicians use them at some time. There are about a dozen flavors available so your doc can tailor to match your meds and other issues. a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 I used a Beta blocker to deal with the shakes too. I teach, and I thought it was probably a little disconcerting to the students when it looked like I was more nervous than they were. I only took it on the days when I taught, and it really helped. As a.m wrote, I didn't notice any side effects. It made eating soup possible again! Another nice things, many are quite cheap, so you shouldn't have to add too much to your med bill. Sophia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 thanks a.m. and sophia-- I'm so relieved that there seems to be a reasonable sounding solution out there! I was so worried that I'd have to screw with my lamictal or add another daily med to the seven (count'em) pills I swallow each morning. It sounds like I could take them as needed though? Because that would be fan-freaking-tastic, I gotta say. I hope my pdoc gets on board with this idea, because I really can't take much more of this-- try putting false eyelashes or liquid eyeliner on someone while your hands buzz up/down/side/side in no predictable way-- eep! Not pretty if I'm having a worse day-- so embarrassing to look incompetent and sloppy (neither of which I believe myself to be) when you're trying to look professional and meticulous if anyone else is reading this, please still kick in your 2cents-- every bit of info is helpful, m ps- a.m.: best avatar and caption ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 The side effects from beta blockers are worse if you don't take them every day. They are dirt-cheap though. Many are in the $10 a month range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_papertrees_* Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 my pdoc prescribed me biperden (akineton) an anti-parkinson's drug for the tremors. They went away in a week. Ask your pdoc about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cynic Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Ar you getting enough sleep? Do you consume large amounts of caffeine? Are you prediabetic? That third thing - I noticed that my hands would shake alot, but it was because my blood sugar would get really low. My doctor confirmed I was prediabetic after taking a few tests. On the days I actually pay attention to my diet, my sugar won't drop and my hands don't shake. Not sure if this helps, seeing that everyone else mentioned the Beta blockers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Sometimes it seems that coffee aggrevates what could potentially be shaking hands, and I'm an artist, not cool to shake. I take klonopin for it, a half tab (.5mg) is enough to calm my hands/nerves, but it doesn't make me sleepy or groggy or anything. And it's cheap too. Just a thought from another direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg Posted September 13, 2008 Author Share Posted September 13, 2008 The side effects from beta blockers are worse if you don't take them every day. hadn't thought about that-- the side effect thing. hmm. well, I could settle for another daily rx if it really helped, I just hate to add another pill since everyone is already so freaked out about how many meds I take ("but you're so young!"-"the meds are probably the PROBLEM"-"holy sh! you have more pills than my grandmother"-"haha- got a pharmacy in there?") but I guess it comes down to how I feel about it-- and if it keeps me from sticking false eyelashes onto people's noses, then I'm for it Ar you getting enough sleep? Do you consume large amounts of caffeine? Are you prediabetic? sleep is a major check-- get a freaking ton of sleep (but am still exhausted--another novel) and it's confirmed by a completely unhelpful but good sleep doc. I sleep like a freaking baby eep about the diabetic thing-- it's a good thing that you caught yours though, right? am having a zillion1/2 blood tests because of my exhaustion problem, and I'm pretty sure that they would catch anything way off about my blood sugar, but thanks for the tip-- I'll make sure they cover that. Sometimes it seems that coffee aggrevates what could potentially be shaking hands, and I'm an artist, not cool to shake. I take klonopin for it, a half tab (.5mg) is enough to calm my hands/nerves, but it doesn't make me sleepy or groggy or anything. And it's cheap too. oh yeah, forgot that you are an artist, so you know where I'm coming from (BTW- crazy amounts of respect for people who are in the classical arts-- I go to an art and design school and am always in awe of the illustrators and painters, etc.-- you did your avatar IIRC, right? is beautiful.) as far as caffine goes- I haven't ever noticed a difference in the shaking with or w/out it, I rarely have any caffine actually (since it does zip for keeping me awake I don't see the point) so that's out. I DO however, take adderall for my tiredness/depression, but again, I don't think it affects the tremor. so klonopin works for you then as needed? do you mind me asking if it's also for any anxiety, or was it prescribed just for the shaking issue? I just have never had any anxiety problems (knockonwood) and the shaking isn't caused by nerves, so don't know if my pdoc would go there but it's an interesting idea. oh-- wait-- I wonder if taking it while being on adderall would be counter productive or something...I know a small dose shouldn't make me sleepy, but I'd be really worried it might take away from the adderall effectiveness and it is just *barely* doing the job now. am rambling again, thanks all for the quick and (way)helpful comments, any other ideas or whatever now that the sleep/caffine issues are accounted for would be great, m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 It is prescribed for anxiety prn, but I take it for shaking too, which, well, I guess could be some anxiety mixed in there. I wouldn't have the slightest idea about the adderall effect, ask your pdoc? Klonopin is the *only* benzo that doesn't knock me out unless I take several (sometimes, seriously, the anxiety gets bad). And yes, that's my artwork. Thanks for the kind words Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I take cogentin for the hand twitching and leg twitching, but my pdoc thinks it is caused by my Abilify rather than by my Lamictal. At any rate it works pretty well. I just can't take it and drive. Tommy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenlyn Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I take cogentin for the hand twitching and leg twitching, but my pdoc thinks it is caused by my Abilify rather than by my Lamictal. At any rate it works pretty well. Tommy I have tremors really bad. It makes doing things difficult, like the other day i had to have my sister fill out the check 'cause i couldn't write. I took cognetin and it worked great, except that i had a side effect and cannot take it anymore, but it did work well. Since then i've been on symmetrel (didn't do shit) and am currently on artane, which works but not as well as the cogentin. I would try it, for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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