Essential Tremor Support Group

I have Benign Essential Tremor; pretty severe. I cannot write, nor hold open liquids. I use spoons for everything. I started on Inderal LA 60, back in 1989. They no longer make the time release capsules; so I am now on 60 mgs capsules (1 AM, 1 PM), with a 30 mgs tablet to take as boosters, when needed. This treatment doesn't help with handwriting, but it does keep the tremors less noticeable. Some days, you cannot tell at all. Inderal has been a Godsend...I highly recommend asking your doc if it's right for you...just be careful, because Inderal slows the Heartrate and lowers Blood Pressure; thus controlling the tremors. Make sure you start slow with the Inderal, and work up 10 mgs at a time. (Dosages start at 10 mgs.) Good Luck...Julie in NC

armchrqb. Where you ever ona lower dosage of Inderal than 120/day? My sysmptoms don't sound anywhere near as severe as your's, but I've been on 60mg/day & have started feeling some shaking again. Do you ever feel like your shaking overall body? Not only will my hands be shaky (not good I'm a photographer by trade), but my whole upper body feels sort of like it vibrating sometimes. Really really annoying!

I've been taking inderal since I was around 12 or so. Inderal has been extremely helpful for me. Without it, I have trouble holding glasses of water, playing guitar, writing etc.. But yes, I'm on 40mg once per day and would be lost without it I think. Best of luck man.

I take the GENERIC of Inderal, which is Propranolol. Propranolol also regulates the heart beat, which I also need, since my heartbeat is very irregular, so I'm killing two birds with one stone, so to speak. I do take quite a large dose of Propranolol each day....
which is five 40mg tablets every day.....two, morning...two
at noon and one at dinner time.
It seems to keep the tremor at a reasonable pace......even though it's slowly getting worse, again. The ONE thing I worry about, with Propranolol is that if you stop taking it all at one time, it's AWFUL! I ran out ONE time.....and my heart went wild. I thought it was going to come right out of my chest. I had to call and get the pharmacist to give me enough to last until I got my prescription in the mail. I spoke to the doctor about it, and she still wanted me to take it, since it was good for the tremor, and VERY good to regulate my heartbeat. So, I just make CERTAIN that I have enough, so that I don't run out. I hope I helped a little bit. SK77

I was DX w/BET in 2005, but never put on meds. It wasn't until symptoms progressed, I was upgraded to Parkins(PD) and am taking 25/100mg Sinemet 4x's day. My new Internist added 10mg Inderal 3x's day because Sinemet peaks and then wears off, Inderal helps keep the tremors at bay. I am finally beginning to read my own handwriting. Another advantage, it is also taken to eleviate Anxiety and it works, most of the time. As for blood pressure it hasn't done anything there, but then it sounds like I'm on a pretty low dose.

BTW, thanks Doug for posting this. I didn't know about alot of this information. SG

I was diagnosed with ET recently. I've been shaking and jerking for about 2 years now. I was on Propanolol for all this time for my heartrate. But then my doctor told me a couple weeks ago that Pro. was taken for ET. I was on 50? mg. and he upped it recently to 120 mg. My shaking and jerking has gotten so bad, it's like I'm not on anything to help it. I can't write, I can't drive without slamming on the break (pretty funny actually) and I can't carry any liquids in my right hand. It seems to be mainly on my right side (except for my head and neck). I feel as though my body is spiraling out of control. Is this normal????

Does anyone know if Inderal is another equivalent of Sinemet or Requip? I tried the Requip, but couldn't tolerate the Side Effects. Thanks,
~Tonya

Tonya,
I take both Sinemet and Inderal. I was tried on Requip too, but it had no effect on my PD. Sinemet has levadopa and is to increase dopamine levels. Inderal is a beta-blocker to help with blood preassure but also is helpful for tremors and anxiety. Sure has been helpful for me. I'm no doc but this is my understanding.