I had my lithium increased recently and I’m noticing that I’ve got shaky hands, it comes on out of the blue but doesn’t last for more than 15 mins or so, although the shaking can be quite bad at times. I know that shaking can be a side effect, but does this mean the lithium is harming me? Does anyone know why it causes shaky hands?
No clue!
Ima be on it soon too maybe…how does it help you?
Do you have to be hospitalized to get on it?
lithium acts on dopamine receptors.
it “inhibits excitatory neurotransmitters such as dopamine”
dopamine is important for motor function (movement, including that of the hands)
when dopamine is inhibited, i think the brain has trouble initiating movement leading to a shaky or jerky movement
people with parkinsons have this same shakiness and its caused by low dopamine in parts of their brain
it may just take a while for the brain to reach homeostasis after taking your medication
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Yeah tremors are more likely due to the dopamine. Talk to your shrink. There are meds you can take but that gets complicated. Might pay to try another…
I have an uncle with parkinsons. He paid a shiteload to get electrodes placed in his brain and all and still struggles. It’s way worse than sz for me at least.
Talk to your shrink!
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I don’t think you have to be in hospital to go on it, they just do regular blood tests when you first start on it to get the levels right and then I’m on 3 monthly blood tests. It is a very good mood stabiliser, I’m just a little concerned about the shaking. I still get mood swings on it, although definitely less often and less drastic (although I did have a bad depressive episode recently).
Ah, I see, thanks for the info. I did just have an increase recently so hopefully things will settle as my body gets used to it.
Yeah I’d be reluctant to have to take more meds for the side effects… I will speak to my doc at next appt, it’s in a couple of weeks, hopefully it will settle, I don’t want to have to change meds unless really necessary. Thanks.
Did you ask your pdoc about this? I had tremors on lithium, seroquel, and zoloft, so my pdoc gave me cogentin. 1mg in the morning, 1mg at night. Keeps the tremors to a minimum.
I used to get shaky hands taking lithium. It went away over time. I remember trying to smoke a cigarette and the thing would be bouncing around. I told people it was the Parkinson’s
Lithium does cause shaky hands - it is a known phenomenon
Often propranolol can fix it
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I took propranolol and it did work. Very cool drug, can help with PTSD too
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It’s a real workhorse! Gets used for a lot of stuff
Gave it to my wife once because she had some PTSD from my past drinking. So I gave it to her and then drank a bottle of scotch, said some really bad stuff too. But she didn’t panick or get overwhelmed, stayed relatively calm. In theory that should have broken the cycle of her emotions towards my drinking. In reality the alcohol messed me up for a week. Still I might actually say it worked.
Lithium can cause even debilitating shakey hands where it can effect your handwriting and your job even. Talk to your doctor.
yea i was prescribed cogentin one time when i was on AP’s
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Thanks for all your replies! I wouldn’t mind taking propranolol as I’ve taken that in the past for anxiety - I didn’t know it could be used for the shaky hands… I’ll certainly ask my doc next appt.
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