aura Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 I'm sure others have experienced this, but has anyone had it go away over time? I started lithium in late April and I still have a significant hand tremor. It makes writing and eating difficult sometimes, and frustrating all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 I've been on lithium for years. Some days are worse than others. I do think it might be tied to how much water I've drank (or didn't drink) the day before. My handwriting has gone to shit, businesses that receive my checks must think I'm 95 yo. Usually it's worse in the mornings, and kinda evens out by the afternoon. I have good days too, where my handwriting is back to normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 When I took lithium, the tremor never went away for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 I didn't get the tremor immediately, but once I got it, it didn't stop til I discontinued lithium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 I have been on lithium for over 12 years and have always had some degree of a tremor. My tremor varies in intensity. Mostly it is slight and barely noticeable, sometimes it is a little worse and there are also times where it is very obvious and writing, pouring tea etc is a real problem.Thankfully the last one doesn't happen too often and usually indicates that my blood level is on the higher side of normal, usually due to not drinking enough, spending too much time in the sun or taking medication that increases my blood level such as ibuprofen (I rarely take this but sometimes have to). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintalto Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 My hands shake. I've found the shake a lot less if I drink lots and lots of water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Distant Rabbit Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I was only on lithium briefly, but I remember significant hand tremor that was so annoying.Heavier silverware might be easier than light-weight stuff when eating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 To give you hope, aura, I'm having a good morning. Today is shopping day, and I'm making out the list, and am amazing myself with how good my handwriting is.Like I said, good days and bad days. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 I don't have a tremor all the time, I sporadically have a bad tremor that tends to be in my right hand. It usually just lasts a couple of hours. So I am a little weird.Is there nothing that can be taken for the tremor? I thought there was, I just don't have a big enough issue to pursue it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aura Posted September 7, 2015 Author Share Posted September 7, 2015 Thanks for the comments. I've been paying attention, and it seems the tremor gets worse if I'm dehydrated or hungry, like before a meal. It's especially annoying when I'm eating something with chopsticks... as it turns out, sushi + hand tremor = spilled soy sauce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChameleonCompass Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 I'm ageeing with everyone else. Definitely a worse tremor when I'm dehydrated or haven't eaten much. It's worse in the morning after I take my meds, It's often slightly less shaky in the evenings. My handwriting is very erratic now. I don't think it's something that goes away, but for me the benefits outweigh the inconveniences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 It's surprised me in that it hasn't gone away. I am by no means constantly having a tremor, it is more like once a week. Then my hand is shaking really hard for that couple of hours. I've been on lithium for about 3 or 4 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Always Unstable Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 My hand tremor isn't too bad but I do have problems gripping pens and writing sometimes. My hand writing got even worse if that were possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aura Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 Have you tried propranolol for tremor? I took it when I'd have a meeting at work or in any other situation where I thought my tremor might be distracting. It made a huge difference. I didn't take it every day but I could have as it had no side effects for me. It's a beta-blocker so if you've got any sort of heart condition or glaucoma or something along these lines, be sure and let your doctor know.I haven't tried it, but I'll definitely ask next time I meet my pdoc. Thanks for the tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncomfortable thoughts Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 (edited) First time that I took lithium I had terrible hand shakes and tremors, my dosage was 800mg of the instant release one, it didn't went away because I guess my second medicine gave hand shakes too, but my third didn't so the tremors and shakes went away. People would notice my hand tremors and comment on it and I didn't want to talk about my mental health.A year and some months latter, I tried lithium again, this time the extend release one at 900mg. I took it for some months along with lamotrigine and this time I got the thirsty, nausea, acne, dry skin and increased apetite that I did before, but no tremors or shake.I saw sertraline on your signature, I had hand shakes and tremors while on it. Edited September 16, 2015 by uncomfortable thoughts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 The past two days have been a little rough. Had to go to the bank for a withdrawal. The teller kept looking at my signature, looking at my drivers license, she finally made a comment that these signatures don't add up. Really? There's a fucking picture on my license! Had to finally explain that it's a med s/e, thank god she finally left me alone. Like I said, some days are better than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aura Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 I saw sertraline on your signature, I had hand shakes and tremors while on it.Oh really? I'm actually stopping sertraline. Hopefully that will help. Thanks for sharing this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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