- Quick, Easy, & Hassle-Free
- UK Based
- GPhC Regulated
- Secure Checkout
- Express Delivery
No Appointments
No Embarrassment
No Hassle!
No Appointments
No Embarrassment
No Hassle!
Essential Tremor is a common neurological disorder causing involuntary, rhythmic shaking, often affecting the hands during voluntary movements like writing or eating. While not life-threatening, it can impact daily life and is managed with medications, lifestyle changes, or, in severe cases, surgical options like deep brain stimulation.
Essential Tremor is a common neurological disorder characterised by involuntary and rhythmic shaking, most often affecting the hands but can also impact the head, voice, and other body parts. It typically manifests during voluntary movements such as writing, eating, or drinking, distinguishing it from other tremor disorders like Parkinson’s disease, where tremors occur predominantly at rest.
While the exact cause of ET remains unclear, it is believed to have a genetic component, with approximately half of cases attributed to an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. The condition can significantly impact daily activities and quality of life, though it is not life-threatening.
Management strategies include medications such as beta-blockers and anticonvulsants, lifestyle modifications, and, in severe cases, surgical interventions like deep brain stimulation. Early diagnosis and tailored treatment plans are crucial in mitigating the symptoms and improving patient outcomes.
A tremor is an involuntary, rhythmic shaking, or trembling movement in one or more parts of the body, resulting from the contraction of opposing muscle groups. A slight tremor, known as a physiological tremor, is present in all people but is usually not noticeable.
Tremor most commonly affects the hands and arms but can also occur in the head, vocal cords, torso, and legs. Tremor may be intermittent or constant, it can occur sporadically or happen as a result of another disorder.
Essential Tremor (ET) also known as benign, familial, or hereditary tremor, is a neurological disorder. ET is the most common cause of tremor; estimates suggest that up to 6% of the population suffer with the condition.
The exact cause of ET is unknown; however, it is known to run in families and around half of all cases are familial. ET is equally common amongst men and women and is more prevalent with increasing age. Most people that develop ET are aged over 40 but the onset of familial cases usually occurs during childhood.
In ET, the tremor is usually not present at rest but becomes more noticeable when the affected body part is held in a position or with movement. Most people experience tremors when they’re trying to do something, such as tying shoelaces or opening a jar.
All people that have ET experience it slightly differently and the severity of the condition can vary greatly. In some the tremor is so mild that they barely notice it, while in others it can make the simplest of tasks such as drinking a cup of tea or writing very difficult.
ET generally worsens with age and research has shown that certain factors can make the tremors temporarily worse, such as stress, tiredness, extreme temperatures, smoking, drinking caffeine, or feeling hungry or angry.
ET itself is not considered life threatening, however, it can be embarrassing and affect mood, morale, and social and employment prospects. In some cases, ET can be very disabling, making it difficult or even impossible to perform simple activities and daily life tasks. Additionally, there is some evidence that people with ET are more likely than average to develop other neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, especially in individuals whose tremor first appears after age 65.
Unfortunately, ET can’t be cured but there are treatments available which can reduce the severity of the tremor if it is having an impact on everyday life.
The only symptom of ET is an involuntary tremor which most commonly affects the hands and arms. If you have other symptoms in addition to tremor you may have a different condition.
ET usually presents with a tremor of the arms or hands. The tremor often starts in one arm or hand before progressing to the other within a couple of years. Initially, the tremor may be transient (not present all the time), eventually it is likely to become persistent when the affected body part is held in a position or with certain movements.
Around 40% of cases involve the neck muscles, causing tremor of the head. Voice, face, and jaw muscles may also be involved. Very occasionally, the tremor may spread to involve the legs.
Tremor may be worse with stress, tiredness, smoking, caffeine intake, hunger, or certain emotions such as anger. Extremes in temperature can also make the tremor more severe. Background tremor severity tends to worsen with progressing age.
With ET, the tremor may be able to be controlled to a certain extent by concentration on a task and should not occur during sleep.
Unfortunately, ET can’t be prevented or cured but there are some measures that can be taken to reduce the severity of the tremor.
ET cannot be cured; the main aim of any treatment is to reduce the severity of the tremor. Mild tremor that produces no functional disability or handicap does not typically require treatment. Medication should only be considered if the tremor has an impact on daily activities or tasks. Some people only take medication when they are in situations in which their tremor is exacerbated, such as before a social event, job interview, or meeting.
Medication for ET is usually given on a trial and error basis as some work better than others depending on the individual patient. There are two main medicines used initially for ET – Propranolol and Primidone. These medicines have been shown to ease tremor in about half of affected people. Medication is usually started at a low dose and gradually increased until the tremor improves. If the maximum dose is reached without a satisfactory improvement then the other medicine can be trialled. If that also doesn’t work, patients can try taking the two together.
Propranolol is a beta-blocker that is usually used in heart disease. It has also been shown to be effective in ET. This medicine should be used with care if you have a heart conduction problem or a lung disease such as asthma. The most common side effects with Propranolol are dizziness, tiredness and nausea.
Primidone is a medicine that is primarily used for epilepsy. However, it also works very well in ET. The most common side effects are sleepiness, dizziness, and nausea. These may improve if you continue to take this medicine.
Other medicines that have been shown to have some effect on reducing tremor severity can be tried if Propranolol and Primidone are ineffective. Medication that may be tried include: Topiramate, Atenolol, Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Gabapentin, Pregabalin, Sotalol, and Zonisamide. Botulinum toxin A can be used for patients with head or voice tremor. It is injected into the muscles that cause the tremor, temporarily weakening the muscle to reduce the tremor. These injections must be repeated two to four times per year.
Although medication may help some patients with tremor and should be tried first, those with severe tremor that does not respond to medication may consider a surgical procedure such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) or Thalamotomy. A neurologist can advise you on the most appropriate treatment options for your condition.
It is important to discuss any new or previously undiagnosed tremor symptoms with your GP so that a professional diagnosis can be made.
You should see your GP if you experience or develop other symptoms in addition to tremor, as this may be caused by another condition. You should also contact your GP if your tremor has rapidly worsened or spread to another part of your body.
The questionnaire consists of simple questions regarding your general health and the treatment requested. The online assessment is straightforward and completely private and confidential.
Once your request has been approved by our prescriber and payment has been received, your treatment is then dispensed, packaged, and posted by our regulated pharmacy partner. Your order will arrive as quickly as the next day depending on your selected delivery option.
You can be confident that your treatment will be 100% genuine, safe, and effective, as we only use medications procured from licensed manufacturers and trusted UK wholesalers.
Rest assured that your treatment will be delivered in plain packaging for complete discretion.
Our fully accredited and qualified UK prescriber then screens your completed medical questionnaire and assesses your suitability for treatment. If the prescriber has any additional questions or concerns, they will contact you directly for clarification.
Provided that the prescriber is satisfied that the treatment is appropriate, the repeat request will be approved, and a supply price provided. In the event that your request is refused, you will be informed of the reason and given referral advice.
Once your order has been approved by our prescriber, your treatment is then dispensed, packaged, and posted by our regulated pharmacy partner. Your order will arrive as quickly as the next day depending on your selected delivery option.
You can be confident that your treatment will be 100% genuine, safe, and effective as we only use medications procured from licensed manufacturers and trusted UK wholesalers.
Rest assured that your treatment will be delivered in plain packaging for complete discretion.
A straightforward medical questionnaire acts as a replacement to the conventional face-to-face appointment. This type of consultation process is quick and should only take around five minutes to complete.
The questionnaire consists of simple questions regarding your general health and the specific condition selected. Questions are easy to understand and similar to those that you would be asked during a GP appointment.
The online assessment is completely private and confidential and is conducted with the same professionalism and safety standards as you would expect from a regular appointment but without the need for an awkward or embarrassing face-to-face consultation.
When the questionnaire has been completed, you can add your chosen treatment to your basket and complete our secure checkout process.
Our fully accredited and qualified UK prescriber then screens your completed medical questionnaire and assesses your suitability for treatment. If the prescriber has any additional questions or concerns, they will contact you directly for clarification.
Provided that the prescriber is satisfied that the treatment is appropriate, the order will be approved, and a free private prescription issued for dispensing. In the event that your order is refused, you will be informed of the reason and given referral advice.
Select the condition that you require treatment for from our extensive list.
Detailed information, guidance, and advice about the selected condition and associated medications are clearly provided on our website.
When you are ready, simply click through to commence the online consultation process.
